微生物および生化学技術ジャーナル

概要

Impact on Flotation Reagent

Evelyn Joy

Flotation, in mineral processing, method used to separate and concentrate ores by altering their surfaces to a hydrophobic or hydrophilic condition that is, the surfaces are either repelled or attracted by water. In the mining industry, the plants where flotation is undertaken to concentrate ore are generally known as concentrators or mills. This slurry (more properly called the pulp) of hydrophobic particles and hydrophilic particles is then introduced to tanks known as flotation cells that are aerated to produce bubbles. The Flotation Cell is aerated to produce bubbles and agitated to keep the solids particles in suspension in the pulp. The hydrophobic particles (mineral particles being recovered) attach to the bubbles and rise to the surface where they form a blanket of froth which contains the mineral in concentrate. For example, froth flotation is a technique commonly used in the mining industry. . In this technique, particles of interest are physically separated from a liquid phase as a result of differences in the ability of air bubbles to selectively adhere to the surface of the particles, based upon their hydrophobicity