ABSTRACT
Flotation is one of the most important methods for mineral separation. Because of its capability of fi ne particle processing, fl otation has been applied to low-grade ores that other separation methods cannot handle economically. In fl otation, ore is fi nely ground and is mixed with water to make a suspension called pulp. After the addition of fl otation reagents such as a collector, frother, and so on, the pulp is subject to violent agitation with aeration in a fl otation cell for suffi cient collision between minerals and bubbles. The targeted minerals coated with hydrophobic collector fi lm are captured at the air-water interface of bubbles and are lifted to the surface of the pulp to form a froth layer. The froth is skimmed off from the fl otation cell as a concentrate, whereas unwanted minerals remaining in the pulp are discharged as tailing.
