THEORY:

Flotation is permitted the mining of low-grade and complex ore bodies which would
have otherwise been regarded as uneconomic. Flotation, or more specifically “froth” flotation,
is a physico-chemical method of concentrating ground ores. The process involves chemical
treatment of an ore pulp to create conditions favorable for the attachment of pre-determined
mineral particles to air bubbles. The air bubbles carry the selected minerals to the surface of
the pulp, there forming a stabilized froth. Other minerals remain submerged in the pulp.
Application area of flotation is Sulphide Types Ores (cupper-zinc- lead) and the
flotation process is used for the separation of a large range of silicates, carbonates,sulphates
and oxides prior to further refinement. Phosphates and coal are also processed upgraded by
flotation technology.The optimum particle size for application of flotation is:
Ore minerals  250 μ and Coal minerals  500 μ .
There are two types of flotation which are direct flotation and reverse flotation.Direct
flotation is that valuable minerals are obtained from the float part and gangue minerals locate
at the bottom. In this technique, physicochemical surface properties differences are used and
minerals are usually transferred to the float part and gangue is left in the pulp. Reverse
flotation is that valuable minerals are obtained from the bottom part and gangue minerals are
taken from float part. The activity of mineral surface in relation to flotation reagents is
depends in water on the forces which operate on that surface.

The ore is ground into a fine powder and mixed with water to form a 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 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 a froth. The froth is removed and the concentrated mineral is further
refined.

ө = contact angle
 If minerals have high contact angle, it is called as Hydrophopic or Aerophilic. These
kinds of minerals have a higher affinity for air than water. Froth flotation is a process for
separating minerals from gangue by taking advantage of differences in their hydrophobicity.
Hydrophobicity differences between valuable minerals and waste gangue are increased
through the use of surfactants and wetting agents. The selective separation of the minerals
makes processing complex ores economically feasible. If minerals have low contact angle, it
is called as hydrophilic or aerophobic Minerals. These kinds of minerals have high affinity for
water than air.
Floatation reagents are collectors,frothers and regulators. These are:
COLLECTORS: Collector are organic compounds,which render certain selected They are
the reagents which produce the hydrophobic film on the mineral particle.Most collectors in
current use are heteropolar. That is, they contain both a polar oxyhydryl and sulphydryl
collectors(anionic),cationic and a non-polar (uncharged) group. A collector’s polar head will
attach to a polar mineral surface, leaving the nonpolar tails toward the surrounding water
molecules, rendering the mineral hydrophobic.

COLLECTORS

Non-ionizing Ionizing
Non-polar Minerals (Hydrophobic) Anionic Cationic
all hydrocarbons
Cationic (amines)
Kerosene, Fuel Oil
Sulphydryl
Oxyhydrl Xanthates Dithiophoshates
Carboxylic
Sulphates Sulphonates
FROTHERS: Frothers are water soluble organic reagents that adsorb at the air water
interface.They are heteropolar molecules and surface active reagents generally When the
mineral surfaces have been hydrophobic by the collector, the frother is meant to produce a
stable bubble. Frothers also act as collectors, which can lead to decreased selectivity. Some
collectors are such good frothers as well that they stabilize the froth so much as to reduce their
transportability.

Frothers

 Pine oil
 Alcohols (MIBC)
 Polyglycols
 Polyoxyparafins|
 Cresylic Acid (Xylenol)

MODIFIERS: Either activates or depresses mineral attachment to air bubbles, and also used
to control pH. Flotation is carried out at alkali pH’s (above 7) because most collectors are
stable at higher pH’s. pH modifiers are used in large quantities and so their contribution to
cost can be very high. Each mineral has a pH above which it will not float called the critical
pH.The critical pH is dependant on the concentration of the collector.
Chemicals for increasing pH: CaO, NaOH, NaCO
3

Chemicals used for decreasing pH: H SO , HCl

2 4

Modifiers

pH modifiers such as:

 Lime CaO
  Soda ash Na2CO3
 Caustic soda NaOH

Acid H2SO4, HCl

According to the surface characteristic of minerals are classified to Non-Polar or Polar

Minerals.
Non-Polar Minerals: The surface of non-polar minerals is characterized by relatively
weak molecular bonds. In crystal form the molecules are bounded each other covalent bond
but in surface the molecules are bonded each other Vander Walls Bonds. Non-polar surfaces
do not readily interact with the water dipoles. In other words, they are natural floatability,
such as, Talc, Sulphur, Molibedenum, Diamond Graphite, and Coal with contact angle
between 60 and 90. Although it is possible to float these minerals without the aid of reagents,
it is universal to increase their hydrophobicity by the addition of hydrocarbon oils and/or
frothing agents such as Kerosene (collector), Creasote (frother).
Polar Minerals: The surfaces of the polar minerals have strong covalent or ionic surface
bond. The surfaces show high free energy and therefore react strongly with water molecules.
These minerals are hydrophilic. They have been subdivided into various classes according to
the polarity which increases from sulphides to silicates.

OBJECT

-To become familiar with the flotation stages and also the reagents involving in the operation.
-To represent the conditioning tank and froth flotation equipments.

MATERIAL

-Simple or complex metallic ore crushed and ground to certain size fractions(magnetite)
-Coal samples crushed and ground to certain size fractions.
-Suitable types of collectors, frothers and modifiers.
MAGNETITE
Magnetite is a natural magnet, hence the name, giving it a very nice distinguishing
characteristic. Explaining the magnetism is not easy but here is a go at it. Remember,
electricity produces magnetic fields just as magnetism produces electic fields. Magnetite is a
member of the spinel group which has the standard formula A(B)2O4. The A and B represent
usually different metal ions that occupy specific sites in the crystal structure. In the case of
magnetite, Fe3O4, the A metal is Fe +2 and the B metal is Fe +3; two different metal ions in
two specific sites. This arrangement causes a transfer of electrons between the different irons
in a structured path or vector. This electric vector generates the magnetic field.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is black.
Luster is metallic to dull.
Transparency: Crystals are opaque.
Crystal System is isometric; 4/m bar 3 2/m
Crystal Habits are typically octahedrons but rarely rhombododecahedron and other isometric
forms, most commonly found massive or granular. Twinning of octahedrons into spinel law
twins is seen occassionally.
Cleavage is absent although octahedral parting can be seen on some specimens.
Fracture is conchoidal.
Hardness is 5.5 - 6.5
Specific Gravity is 5.1+ (average for metallic minerals)
Streak is black.
Associated Minerals are talc and chlorite (schists), pyrite and hematite.
Other Characteristics: Magnetism stronger in massive examples than in crystals, striations on
crystal faces (not always seen).
Notable Occurrences include South Africa, Germany, Russia and many locallities in the USA.
Best Field Indicators are magnetism, crystal habit and streak.

EQUIPMENT

 A self aeration Denver type(Sub-A) flotation machine

 One or two liters flotation cell
 Beakers
 1 ml and 10 ml pipettes
 Digital balance

PROCEDURE

• Prepare the stock of solutions of reagents

• Place the sample into the flotation cell with water
• Start the impeller to agitate
• Add depressants and activators, then frothers
• Turn the air inlet on
• Collect the froth to another container

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

2-)Flotation pulp pH is very crucical for the flotation. The efficiency of all flotation reagents
depends on the concentration of hydrogen or hydroxyl ion in the pulp. The surface electrical
charge represented by mineral surfaces in an aqueous medium can be controlled by
manipulation of the pH. pH influences the absorbtion of collector by the mineral surface. In
addition,the pH will determine the extent of the ionization of the collector and its dominant
chemical form in aqueos phase
3-) Sphalerite does not react with Xanthate, so does not float by a Xanthate collector.
Because of this property copper ions used as activators. Addition of CuSO4 into the solution
will enchance the effectiveness of the ZnS flotation. CuSO4 dissolves in the water and copper
ions forms CuS substance.
ZnS(surface) + Cu2+(solution) CuS(surface) + Zn2+
The CuS on the sphalerite surface reacts with the xanthate to form insoluble copper Xanthate
which renders the sphalerite surface hydrophobic.
4-)Collectors are organic compounds which render selected minerals water repellent. They
reduce the stability of the hydrated layer to such a level that attachment of the particle to the
bubble can be made on contact. Non ionizing collectors are practically insoluble, do not
dissociate in water. They are liquids, hydrocarbon oils. They render the mineral surface water
repellent by covering its surface with a thin film. Ionizing collectors have complex molecules
which are asymmetric in structure and are heteropolar (the molecule contains a non polar
hydrocarbon group and a polar group). The non polar hydrocarbon radical has water repellent
property and provides the hydrophobic surface to the mineral.

CONCLUSION

Froth flotation is a very efficient method for the purpose of separating particles that
have various surface properties with respect to physicochemical environments and the reagent
utilized for the operation. Determining which reagent to use for a specific material and
recognizing the properties of reagent that what kind of material compatible with this reagent
is very vital.Flotation technique has low operaing cost and high capacity.In addition,the
method does not depend o gravity concentration,so it has wide range of use field.The effects
of collectors,modifiers and frothers are observed and the concentration grade is high.In other
words, in flotation technique high recovery and efficient separation are observed.
 REFERENCES
Mineral Processing Lab Manual

Wills, Mineral Processing Technology, 7th Edition

http://www.galleries.com/Minerals/Oxides/MAGNETIT/MAGNETIT.htm