S8

PART B : FROTH FLOTATION

OBJECTIVES
(i) To study the separation performance of froth flotation using Floatation cell.

ii) Calculate the percentage recovery of coal using Denver floatation cell.

THEORY

Froth flotation is a process for selectively separating hydrophobic materials from hydrophilic.
This is used in mineral processing, paper recycling and waste-water treatment industries.

Mechanisms of froth flotation are:

•Attachment of a specific mineral particle to air bubbles

•Caught b/w particles in the froth
•Being carried by the water in the froth

Principles of Froth Flotation :

Froth flotation commences by comminution (that is, crushing and grinding), which is used to
increase the surface area of the ore for subsequent processing and break the rocks into the
desired mineral and gangue in a process known as liberation, which then has to be separated
from the desired mineral. The ore is ground into a fine powder and mixed with water to form
slurry. The desired mineral is rendered hydrophobic by the addition of a surfactant or collector
chemical. The particular chemical depends on which mineral is being refined. As an example,
pine oil is used to extract copper. This slurry (more properly called the pulp) of hydrophobic
mineral-bearing ore and hydrophilic gangue is then introduced to a water bath which is
aerated, creating bubbles. The hydrophobic grains of mineral-bearing ore escape the water by
attaching to the air bubbles, which rise to the surface, forming foam or a scum (more properly
called froth). The froth is removed and the concentrated mineral is further refined.

Collectors
•Collectors either chemically bond (chemisorption) on a hydrophobic mineral surface, or
adsorb onto the surface in the case of, for example, coal flotation through physisorption.
Collectors increase the natural hydrophobicity of the surface, increasing the separability of the
hydrophobic and hydrophilic particles.
Frothers
•Frothers produces stable bubbles for hydrophobic particles to attach to.work in liquid phase
only and not to mineral surface.
•It should have low collecting power.
•Reduce surface tension.
•Pine oil
•Alcohols (MIBC)
•Polyglycols
•Polyoxyparafins|
•Cresylic Acid (Xylenol)