what is meant by froth flotation describe any activity on it
Answers
flotation in which air bubbles are introduced into a mixture of finely divided ore or other material with water and a chemical that aids attachment of the bubbles to the particles of the desired material and its recovery as a froth .
FLOTATION MECHANISM
The essential mechanism of flotation involves the attachment of mineral particles to air bubbles in such manner that the particles are carried to the surface of the ore pulp, where they can be removed. The process encompasses the following steps:
1. Grinding the ore to a size sufficiently fine to liberate the valuable minerals from one another and from the adhering gangue minerals. 2. Making conditions favourable for the adherence of the desired minerals to air bubbles. 3. Creating a rising current of air bubbles in the ore pulp.
4. Forming a mineral-laden froth on the surface of the ore pulp. 5. Removing the mineral-laden froth.
Although grinding of the ore is not, strictly speaking, a part of flotation, it does have an important bearing on the process. For optimum flotation results, the valuable minerals should be separated completely from the waste rock (gangue) and from one another in grinding ;step. In practice, however, this is not often economically feasible, and even when complete separation is attained, other complicating factors may arise. Thus, with the ordinarily used ball mill or rod mill grinding, considerable gangue slimes may be formed which will complicate subsequent flotation steps.
The creation of a rising current of air bubbles is accomplished by a flotation machine which are produced by the mechanical agitation of the ore pulp, the direct introdiktion of air under pressure, or both. These operations may be considered as the mechanical adjuncts of the flotation process.