What is the Role of Flotation Froth in Flotation Machine?

Generally, various flotation machines have the same theoretical basis. That is, the hydrophobic (aerophilic or oil) nature of the ore surface can be activated with the help of flotation reagent, then the ore aggregates at the interface of liquid-gas or water-oil. There is one thing that plays a big role here — froth. So what does froth play in the flotation process?

Actually, v-belt driving of motor drives the impeller to rotate, then forms the negative pressure under the centrifugal effect, then inhaled air produces the froth under the action of the centrifugal force of impeller. The main purpose is to enrich the hydrophilic mineral, improve the precision of mineral processing, decrease the difficulty of processing (such as copper, lead, and zinc), then achieve the high-quality and high-efficient separation.

These froths play a very important role in the froth flotation process. It is because of these froths that the ore particles or ore powder can be attached to the sticky froth. Then these froths carry the ore particles out of the slurry and reach the washing interface to remove the ore particles, so as to achieve flotation process and obtain the concentrate.

The ore particles in the slurry collide with the froths, and those ore particles with good flotability will selectively adhere to the froths and be carried up into the mineralized froth layer (gas-liquid-solid three-phase). Then these ore particles are scraped by the machinery or overflow from the slurry surface, and then become the concentrate through dewatering and desiccation. Those ore particles which cannot float, such as gangue, are discharged from the bottom of the flotation tank as tailings.

There is also another indispensable thing in the froth flotation, namely flotation reagents. The purpose of the reagent is to increase the stability of the mineralized froth during the flotation process, allow the independent operation between air separation and froth formation, increase the hydrophobicity of natural mineral surface and increase the separation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic particles. Of course, different flotation reagents are used for different minerals. Only with the appropriate reagent, the recovery rate of minerals can be improved greatly, and the mineral processing cost can be reduced largely.

Besides,good flotation machine plays an important role in the froth flotation. Good flotation machine can produce finer froth, and the attaching effect of the useful mineral is better. 

Tags:flotation, flotation froth, fltation machine, flotation cell

From:Xinhai Mining Machinery Company