Froth Flotation Equipment
The various equipment used in froth flotation method are discussed below:
Grinders and Crushers
Crushers and Grinders are used to prepare ores for flotation. Large chunks of ore are broken down into smaller particles by crushers, and then the valuable minerals are separated from the gangue by further reducing the particle size in grinding mills.
Separation Cells
The main piece of machinery utilized in the flotation process are flotation cells. These are cylinder-shaped tanks used for mineral flotation. Agitators in the flotation cells ensure complete mixing of reagents with the ore slurry by generating turbulence in the pulp. Various varieties of separation cells are Pneumatic, column, and mechanical flotation cells.
Mixers and Agitators
The ore slurry in the flotation cells is stirred by agitators and mixers, which encourages the interaction of the reagents and minerals. They help air bubbles stick to hydrophobic mineral particles and guarantee that the reagents are distributed evenly throughout the pulp.
Collectors of Froth
Chemicals known as “froth collectors” are added to the flotation cells with the specific goal of making the target minerals more hydrophobic. These collectors adsorb onto the surface of the mineral particles, allowing them to attach to air bubbles and rise to the surface as a froth.
Dispensing System
To precisely distribute flotation reagents into the flotation cells, reagent dispensing devices are employed. By ensuring exact control over reagent dosage, these systems maximize flotation process efficiency and recovery.
Froth Flotation Column
Froth flotation column is a type of flotation device used for the separation and concentration of minerals from ore slurries. Unlike conventional flotation cells, which operate with mechanical agitation to generate air bubbles and mix the slurry, flotation columns utilize a tall vertical vessel with a continuous flow of water and air.
The key components of a froth flotation column include:
Feed Inlet: Where the ore slurry is introduced into the column.
Sparger: A device that injects air or gas bubbles into the bottom of the column to create a rising column of bubbles.
Collection Zone: The upper section of the column where the froth containing the hydrophobic mineral particles is collected.
Wash Water Inlet: Where clean water is introduced into the column to wash the froth and improve the grade of the concentrate.
Residue Outlet: Where the gangue particles, which are hydrophilic (attracted to water), are discharged from the column.
Froth Flotation Process
Froth Flotation is a very important process in the field of mineral processing which is utilized for the purpose of extraction of minerals from Ore. It is a part of surface chemistry in which we selectively separate the minerals from the unwanted material. This process is used in a variety of industries and is very crucial in each one of them. In this article we will look at this process in great detail.
Table of Content
- What is Froth Flotation ?
- Principle of Froth Flotation
- Mechanism of Froth Flotation:
- Technique of Froth Flotation
- Froth Flotation Equipment
- Conclusion