FLOTATION RATE INTERDEPENDENCE OF DIFFERENT SIZED PARTICLES.

Froth flotation processes have proven to be generally the most useful means of mineral beneficiation. However, like all means of physical separation of different kinds of particles, flotation becomes inefficient for extremely fine particles. As particle interaction effects appear to have some promise in being manipulated in froth flotation for successful treatment involving ultrafine material, it was decided to select a simple flotation system that was well defined chemically, mineralogically and particularly that would be suitable for the observation of any particle interaction effects between collector coated particles of different size under similar conditions to those prevailing in actual flotation machines, that is, in a stirred tank environment. The cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-quartz system was selected for the experiments described in this article. Results of the experimental work that are given in the paper led to following conclusions: slime has a deletious effect on coarser particle recovery while coarser particles may enhance the recovery of slimes. It seems that slimes adhere to gas bubbles and prevent flotation of the ″easier″ particles. An understanding of particle interaction effects involving fine particles provides scope for improving flotation practice in situations where fine particles are present.