3150502 - Mechanical Operation

Chemical Engineering Department

V.G.E.C

Experiment No. Date:-

FROTH FLOATATION CELL

Objective :- To study the effect of froth floatation in the recovery of given sample from the mixture.
Equipment and Material: - Froth floatation cell, Air Compressor.
Theory:- Separation of a mixture of solids using froth floatation method depends on difference in
surface properties of the materials involved. If the mixture is suspended in an aerated liquid, the gas
bubbles will allow, the particles of the material which is not wetted by the liquid (or difficult to get
wetted by the liquid) to adhere and its effective density reduce to such an extent that it will be taken to
the surface. if a suitable frothing agent is added to the liquid ,the particles will be held at the surface
until they are discharged over the weir.

Figure : Experimental Set up

 3150502 - Mechanical Operation
Chemical Engineering Department
V.G.E.C

Procedure:-
• Weight about 10-15 gram of charcoal powder and feed it to the floatation cell.
• Add sufficient quantity of water in cell and stir it well.
• Add a few drops of frothing agent(pine oil).
• Stir this mixture for atleast 10 minutes.
• Switch ON the air compressor and allow compressed air to pass through the mixture to
generate the bubbles.
• Collect the froth produced in collection vessel from the overflow weir until no froth is
coming out of the cell.
• Tabulate the observation and calculate percentage recovery.

Observation:-

1. Weight of sample taken = 5 gm

2. Frothing agent taken = Detergent powder
3. Collecting agent taken = Charcoal

Calculations:-
% Recovery = Weight of sample recovered *100
Weight of sample initially taken
=
=

Result:- The % Recovery as obtained is =

Quiz:-
Q-1 Explain principle of froth floatation.
Q-2 Name any four frothing agent for froth floatation.
Q-3 Name any four collectors for froth floatation.
Q-4 Discuss industrial application of froth floatation.

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