FLOTATION

Flotation is a process of separating fine particles of different minerals from each other by
lifting creation minerals at or on a water surface. The mineral particles which are heavier
than water are usually maintained in suspension by surface tension forces. The separation is
then effected by the adhesion of some solid particles to gas bubbles which are introduced in
the pulp. The most commonly employed technique for metallic minerals is called froth
flotation. As the name implies, this involves the production of fine bubbles either from
appropriate chemicals used or from the introduction of air in the system. The valuable
minerals then adhere to the air bubbles and float while the gangue minerals remain in the
pulp.
This is usually applied for the concentration of metallic sulfide minerals such as copper
sulfides, lead sulfides, etc. At present, however, it has become highly effective in the
treatment of a great variety of oxide ores, native ores, and even non-metallic minerals.
FROTH FLOTATION (M)
This process is based on the differences in the physico-chemical properties of various
minerals. The difference can be enhanced by the treatment of the minerals with various
reagents. IN this operation, the valuable minerals adhere to the air bubbles and can be
collected by scraping off the bubbles. On the other hand, the gangue minerals tend to remain
suspended in the pulp and can be collected after the process has been scooped.
Objectives: This experiment aims to familiarize with the concentration of minerals using
froth flotation. The student will also be able to learn the effect of flotation time, feed size,
pH, pulp density, conditioning time and reagent dosages on the wettability of minerals, thus
its ability to float.
Materials and Equipment: Denver flotation cell, low grade copper or chromite ore, pH
meter or pH paper, 325 mesh sieve, rod or ball mill, vacuum filter, drying oven, balance,
graduated cylinder, graduated syringe, collectors, frothers, lime, conditioners, aluminum pans
and trays.
Procedure:
1. Prepare and clean all materials for the flotation test.
2. From a bulk of ore, crush and grind samples, and obtain six (6) samples each weighing
1000 grams by using the appropriate sampling techniques. Grind your samples using the
rod mill for 20 to 30 minutes.
3. Determine the amount of slimes by screening through 325 mesh. The -325 mesh portion
should be considered as slimes. The +325 mesh portion will be used as feed in the
flotation test. Calculate the pulp density based on the +325 product.

4. Run a flotation test maintaining the following parameters:

Percent solids: 30%
Conditioning time: 10 minutes
Flotation time: 5 minutes
Particle size: -325 mesh (after grinding for 30 minutes)
pH: acidic or neutral
5. Adjust the pulp density to around 68 to 80 percent solids with around 400 ml water and
turn on the flotation cell. Keep the air cock closed.
6. Add the predetermined amt. of collector per gram of feed, and adjust the pH to the
desired level using lime at least 3 minutes before the required conditioning time expires.
7. Add water to the desired pulp level of the flotation cell. The pulp level is usually
maintained at around half an inch from the rim of the flotation cell. This should be done
before the frother is added, usually one (1) minute before the conditioning time expires.
Check and adjust the pH.
8. Open the air cock and start collecting the froth using a froth paddle. Continue collecting
the froth or concentrate for 5 minutes. If no bubbles are formed, stop the air source and
add very small amount of frother and condition the pulp for 30 seconds, then open the air
cock.
9. Add water to maintain the pulp level while collecting the froth. Collect as much of the
concentrate as you possibly can. This stage is called the rougher flotation stage.
10. After the test, stop the air inflow. Turn off the flotation cell. Lift the impeller of the
flotation cell slowly, and wash the cell thoroughly to collect any material which may have
attached itself to the cell. Filter and dry the sample from the cell. Get the final weight of
the dry product.
11. Clean a smaller cell thoroughly with water and place the concentrate obtained in the cell.
Adjust the pulp level and the pH, and then add a little bit more of the collector and the
frother. Repeat the flotation and collect the concentrate for a fixed amount of time.
12. Sample and analyze your products. If the ore sample is pre-mixed, analysis can be done
by the microscopic method. Apply the proper sampling procedure to reduce the amount
of sample and can be analyzed easily by microscopic method. The analyses of the head,
concentrate and tail products should be conducted in the same way.
13. Repeat the test for the different conditions stated above.
WORK CAUTIOUSLY TO AVOID UNNECESSARY REPETITION OF TEST

GUIDE FOR DISCUSSIONS:

1. What are the advantages/ disadvantages of flotation over other mineral dressing or
concentrating processes?
2. Explain the basic principle of flotation.
3. Differentiate sulfide and oxide flotation.
4. Flotation is a very complex process and it requires the investigation of many parameters
that might have an effect on the recovery and separation of valuable minerals.
Conventional flotation test requires many trials and tests in order to determine the
individual effects of each of the flotation parameters. How do you decrease the number of
trials or test and minimize the error in analyzing the interactions among the flotation
parameters?
5. What are the most recent developments of flotation process: in terms of flotation
equipment, reagent application, particle size, and grade of ore?