Flotation, in mineral processing, method used to separate and concentrate ores by altering their surfaces to a hydrophobic or hydrophilic condition—that is, the surfaces are either repelled or attracted by water. The flotation process was developed on a commercial scale early in the 20th century to remove very fine mineral particles that formerly had gone to waste in gravity concentration plants. Flotation has now become the most widely used process for extracting many minerals from their ores (Chelsey Parrott-Sheffer,2023).
The basic objective of a flotation device is to keep the pulp in suspension and provide the air bubbles. The size of air bubbles matters as it controls flotation kinetics as well as the carrying capacity of the bubbles. The design technology determines the characteristics of the machine, resulting in concomitant factors like how the collision and contact between air bubbles and particles takes place (Dilip Kumar, 2018).
Video by Eagle Mine
