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INDEX
SR. NO. CONTENT PAGE NO.
1. THEORY 2–3
2. LINE DIAGRAM 4
3. APPARATUS DESCRIPTION 5–6
4. EXPERIMENTAL MANUAL 7–8
5. SAMPLE CALCULATIONS 9
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THEORY

Froth Flotation is a surface-chemistry process of separation of fine solids that

takes advantage of the differences of wettability at solids particle-surfaces. Solid
surfaces are often naturally wettable by water and termed hydrophilic. A surface that
is non-wettable is water repelling and termed hydrophobic. If a surface is
hydrophobic, it is also typically air attracting termed aerophilic, and is strongly
attracted to an air interface, which readily displaces water at the solid's surface. In
froth Flotation, separation of a binary solids mixture may be accomplished by the
selective attachment of hydrophobic solid particles to gas bubbles (typically air). The
other hydrophobic solid particles remain in the liquid (typically water). The
difference in the density between the air bubbles and water provides buoyancy that
preferentially lift the hydrophobic solids particles to the surface where they remain
entrained in a froth which can be drain off or mechanically skimmed away, thus,
effecting the separation. Froth Flotation if often used to separate solids of similar
densities and sizes, which prevent other types of separations based upon gravity that
might other wise be employed. It is especially useful for particles below 100 µm,
which are typically too small for gravity separation using jigging and tabling. The
lower size limit for flotation separation is approximately 35 µm; although particles as
small as 1 µm can be separated. At these small particles sizes, it may be difficult take
advantage of surface properties differences to induce selective hydrophobicity. On
the other hand, particle, greater than 200 µm tend to be readily sheared from the
bubble surfaces by collision with other particles or vessel walls. However, relativity
low density materials, such as coal may be successfully separated up to 1600 µm in
some systems.
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
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suitable frothing agent is added to the liquid, the particles will be held at the surface
until they are discharged over the weir.
Froth Floatation is widely used in metallurgical industries where generally the
ore is difficult to wet and the residual earth is readily wetted. The main difficulty is to
produce the froth of sufficient stability to retain the particles of the desired
constituent on the surface so that they can be discharged over the overflow weir.
Pine oil is used as frothing agent and produces stable froth.
This method is extensively employed in primary treatment of minerals
specially sulphides. The process is based on different characteristics of mineral with
water and with oil. The crushed ore along with water is taken in a floatation shell.
Various additives are added depending on nature of ore and a current of air is taken.
The additives usually used are pine oils. They are of three types.

1. Frothers : Frothers like pine oils from a stable with sizes at

the top.
2. Collectors : They stick themselves to grain the mixture and
they become water repellent.
3. Floatating Agents : It will not appear in overflow.
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LINE DIAGRAM

Stirrer

Flotation Cell

Drain Valve
Froth

Compressed Air
Line

Air Compressor
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APPARATUS DESCRIPTION
The froth floatation cell for the laboratory experiments is of suitable size to
occupy approximately 1.5 m * 1.0 m floor space.
The cell is provided with the following:
Floatation Chamber:
Capacity : 20 liters approx. (trapezoidal)
Size : 250 (Top)*200(Bottom)*400 (Ht)
MOC : SS 304
With drain valve, froth discharge arrangement. All sides are covered by SS 304
plate having opening arrangement for cleaning the chamber.
Agitator:
Impeller : SS 304
Shaft : SS 304
Motor : 0.5 HP
Diffuser:
Type : Stationary Copper Tube
Purpose : To supply air to the cell
Air Compressor:
Capacity : 2 CFM
Motor : ½ HP electric motor
Supply : 220 V AC, 50 HZ, Single Phase
Froth Collection Tank:
Capacity : 20 liter
MOC : SS 304/PVC/Acrylic
FROTH COLLECTION SHEET : SS METAL SHEET
DIMENSION : 0.5 FT*1 FT
CONTROL PANEL:
 On/ Off switch for Compressor, Agitator, Speed Regulator for Agitator,
 Mains Indicator, Fuse etc.
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 Weighing balance with 2 kg capacity and accuracy of ± 0.001.

 All parts of the set up will be suitably mounted on stand of SS painted with
good quality of paint and having heavy duty structure with wheels for ease in
transportation.
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FROTH FLOTATION CELL MANUAL

AIM:

To study the effect of froth floatation in the recovery of given sample from the
mixture.

APPARATUS:

Froth Floatation Cell, Air Compressor, Stirrer, Diffuser.

CHEMICAL:

Graphite/Charcoal Powder/Brick Powder, Floating Agent, Soap Solution

PROCEDURE:

 Add sufficient quantity of water in cell to half of its capacity.

 Take known amount of graphite/Charcoal Powder/Brick Powder and feed it to
the floatation cell.
 Add a few drops of frothing agent (Pine Oil/ kerosene).
 Stir this mixture for at least 3-5 minutes.
 Add few drops of soap solution/detergent powder to the tank.
 Switch ON the air compressor and allow the compressed air to enter the cell
using the air regulator to generate the bubbles so that the water does not
come out from the cell.
 Collect the froth produced in collection vessel from the overflow weir until no
froth is coming out of the cell.
 Switch OFF the air compressor and stirrer.
 Allow the collected froth to get dried and weigh it.
 Tabulate the observations and calculate percentage recovery.
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OBSERVATION:

Weight of the sample (graphite/charcoal powder/Brick Powder) taken: _____ gm

OBSERVATION TABLE:

Amount of Frothing Wt. of Sample Recovery of

Sr.
Agent Added taken Sample % Recovery
No.
(Drops) (gm) (gm)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

CALCULATION:

% recovery = (Wt. of sample recovered / Wt. of sample initially taken) * 100

=
=

RESULT:

CONCLUSION:
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SAMPLE CALCULATION
OBSERVATION:

Weight of the sample (graphite/Brick Powder) taken = 100 gm

OBSERVATION TABLE:

Amount of Frothing Wt. of Sample

Recovery of
Sr. Agent Added (Graphite)
Sample % Recovery
No. (Drops) taken
(gm)
(gm) (gm)
1. 20 100 65 65
2.
3.

CALCULATION:

% Recovery = (Wt. of sample recovered / Wt. of sample initially taken) * 100

= 65 / 100* 100
= 65 %