Dr. Leonardo C. Medina Jr.

8th Edition

7th Edition
Section 19
Pages 19-56 to 19-65

 it

includes any operation in which one solid is

separated from another by floating one of
them on the surface of the fluid.

Schematic Diagram of a Dissolved

Air Flotation Equipment

Schematic Diagram of an
Electrolytic Flotation Equipment

Unit Operation of Flotation is

based on two major steps:
1. Conditioning
2. Separation
The main purpose of the conditioning step is to
create physical-chemical conditions for
achieving appropriate selectivity between
particle species that are to be separated.
The second step is then intended to generate
and introduce air bubbles into the process
vessel for contacting them with particulate
species so as to affect their separation by
flotation.

Basic Steps in a Flotation System

Particles attached to the air bubbles are in most applications
removed from the process vessel as froth.
Froth overflow
concentrate

Feed

Conditioning

Reagents

Separation

Reagents

Tailings
underflow

Air

The unit operation of flotation is often referred to as froth

flotation. The froth overflow stream is called a concentrate in
the minerals industry, and the slurry underflow is termed
tailings.

Schematic Diagram of a Flotation Column

 It

involves chemical treatment of the ore

pulp to create conditions favorable for the
attachment of certain mineral particles to
the air bubbles. The air bubbles carry the
selected minerals on the surface of the pulp
which is skimmed off while the other
minerals submerged at the bottom.

Schematic Diagram of Mechanical

Flotation Cell

Denver Flotation Machine

Agitair Flotation Machine

Fagergren Flotation Machine

Flotation Reagent

Feed, F

Water

Concentrate,

FLOTATION

XC

XF

Tailings, T

XT

F=C+T
XFF =XCC + XTT

Dry
Basis

Flotation Reagents
Three types of chemical reagents are used
during the froth flotation process:
1. collectors
2. frothers
3. modifiers
3.1. Activators
3.2. pH Regulators
3.3. Depressants
3.4. Dispersants and Flocculants

1. Collectors or Promoters alter the

surface of the mineral in order that it will
become air-avid (to cause it to adhere to
air bubbles)
Examples:
a. xanthates; dithiophosphates - for flotation
of metallic sulfides and native metals.
b. crude or refined fatty acids and their soaps;
petroleum; sulfonates; sulfonated fatty
acids
- for flotation of fluorspar, phosphate rock,
iron ore and other non metallics.
c. fatty amines; amine salts
- for flotation of quartz, potash and silicate
minerals
d. fuel oil; kerosene
- for coal, graphite, sulfur and molybdenite

2. Frothers added to strengthen temporarily

covering film of the air bubbles. It serves to
stabilize the froth and holds the minerals
until the froth can be scraped off into the
concentrate launder.
Commonly used frothers:
a. pine oil
c. polypropylene glycol
ether
b. cresylic acid
d. 5 to 8 carbon aliphatic
alcohols

Examples: methyl isobutyl carbinol and methyl

amyl alcohol

3. Modifiers
Flotation modifiers include several classes of
chemicals.

3.1. Activators - These are used to make a

mineral surface amenable to collector
coating. Copper ion is used, for example, to
activate sphalerite (ZnS), rendering the
sphalerite surface capable of absorbing a
xanthate or dithiophosphate collector.
Sodium sulfide is used to coat oxidized
copper and lead minerals so that they can be
floated by a sulfide mineral collector.
3.2. pH regulators - Regulators such as lime,
caustic soda, soda ash, and sulfuric acid are
used to control or adjust pH, a very critical
factor in many flotation separations.

3.3. Depressants - Depressants assist in selectivity

(sharpness of separation) or stop
unwanted minerals from floating.
Typical are sodium or calcium
cyanide to depress pyrite (Fe2S2)
while floating galena (PbS),
sphalerite (ZnS), or copper sulfides;
zinc sulfate to depress ZnS while
floating PbS; sodium ferrocyanide to
depress copper sulfides while floating
molybdenite (MoS2); lime to depress
pyrite; sodium silicate to depress
quartz; quebracho to depress calcite
(CaCO3) during fluorite (CaF2)
flotation; and lignin sulfonates and
dextrins to depress graphite and talc
during sulfide flotation.

3.4. Dispersants and flocculants - These are important

for the control of slimes that
sometimes interfere with the
selectivity and increase reagent
consumption. For example, soda
ash, lime sodium silicate, and
lignin sulfonates are used as
dispersants, and starch and
polyacrylamide are used as
flocculants.
Quantities of modifying agents used vary widely,
ranging from as little as 0.01 to 0.1 g/kg to as high as
1 to 2 g/kg of solids, depending upon the reagent and
the metallurgical problem.

Analysis:
By material balance on each unit
DATA:
1. density of minerals
2. L/S, water to solid ratio
3. composition of feed, concentrate and
tailings
4. reagents
5. contact time
6. type of flotation cells

The schematic diagram showing the relationship between the physical and chemical
properties of fine particles and their behavior in flotation. (G) and (R) refer to whether
the phenomena affects grade and/or recovery. The arrows indicate the various factors
contributing to a particular phenomena observed in flotation of fine particles