A method and apparatus for the recovery of hydrophobic particles from a slurry comprised of water, the hydrophobic particles, and a hydrophilic component. Slurry is exposed to a gas stream to permit bubbles to adhere to the hydrophobic particles. The slurry generally flows vertically through a vessel at a velocity that maintains gas hold-up at least between 30 and 70% to maintain a bubbly flow without a slurry froth interface so that a portion of the water of the slurry, together with entrained gas bubbles attached to hydrophobic particles, flows out of the vessel with a portion of the water of the slurry and the hydrophilic component remaining in the vessel. Water from the slurry and gas bubbles attached to hydrophobic particles flowing through the vessel is discharged and collected for processing. A portion of the hydrophilic component is extracted as tailings for disposal or subsequent processing.

A froth flotation cell for treating mineral ore particles suspended in slurry includes a tank, a gas supply, a first froth collection channel, a second froth collection channel arranged between the centre of the tank and the first froth collection channel, and a radial froth collection launder including a radial froth overflow lip, and extending from the first froth collection channel towards the second froth collection channel. The froth flotation cell further includes a radial froth crowder including a crowding sidewall, and extending from the second froth collection channel to the first froth collection channel. Further, a froth flotation line, its use and a froth flotation method are presented.

A froth flotation cell for treating mineral ore particles suspended in slurry includes a tank, a gas supply, a first froth collection channel, a second froth collection channel arranged between the centre of the tank and the first froth collection channel, and a radial froth collection launder including a radial froth overflow lip, and extending from the first froth collection channel towards the second froth collection channel. The froth flotation cell further includes a radial froth crowder including a crowding sidewall, and extending from the second froth collection channel to the first froth collection channel. Further, a froth flotation line, its use and a froth flotation method are presented.

A flotation line for treating mineral ore particles suspended in slurry is disclosed. The flotation line includes a rougher part with at least one rougher flotation cell from which overflow is arranged to flow directly into a cleaner flotation line; and a scavenger part with at least two scavenger flotation cells from which overflow is arranged to flow back into a rougher flotation cell, or into a regrinding step and then into a cleaner flotation line. Underflow from a last scavenger flotation cell is arranged to be removed from the flotation line as tailings. At least 75% of the flotation cells include a mechanical agitator including a system for introducing flotation gas into the flotation cell. At least one of the flotation cells of the flotation line includes a mechanical agitator including a microbubble generator for introducing microbubbles into the slurry.

A flotation line for treating mineral ore particles suspended in slurry is disclosed. The flotation line includes a rougher part with at least one rougher flotation cell from which overflow is arranged to flow directly into a cleaner flotation line; and a scavenger part with at least two scavenger flotation cells from which overflow is arranged to flow back into a rougher flotation cell, or into a regrinding step and then into a cleaner flotation line. Underflow from a last scavenger flotation cell is arranged to be removed from the flotation line as tailings. At least 75% of the flotation cells include a mechanical agitator including a system for introducing flotation gas into the flotation cell. At least one of the flotation cells of the flotation line includes a mechanical agitator including a microbubble generator for introducing microbubbles into the slurry.

The present invention concerns a process for manufacturing white pigment containing products. The white pigment containing products are obtained from at least one white pigment and impurities containing material via froth flotation.

Methods for niobium concentration from a carbonatite host rock are presented. A basic process for niobium mineral concentration involves performing niobium mineral flotation, on a sufficiently liberated ore slurry, using at one least aromatic hydroxamate collector; and at least one lead salt as a performance modifier. A more optimized process further includes dispersion. A further optimized process includes: magnetic separation, dispersion, sulphide removal, fine suspended particle removal, and niobium cleaner flotation stages. The use of one of number of tested lead salts during flotation improves the yield, and lowers the cost as a significantly lower amount of the collector is required. The process is useful for recovering a variety of species of niobium minerals such as fersmite, pyrochlore, columbite, fergusonite, niobium-containing rutile, and niobium-containing ilmenite.

A froth flotation arrangement and method for treating mineral ore particles suspended in slurry includes a flotation cell for separating the slurry into an underflow and an overflow and a primary line including at least three flotation cells connected in series, wherein each subsequent flotation cell is arranged to receive the underflow from the previous flotation cell, the flotation cell includes a tank and an impeller within the tank, and the flotation cell includes a gas supply within the tank, the tank includes a volume of at least 200 m3, the flotation cell including a froth collection launder capable to receive the overflow the froth collection launder including a froth overflow lip, the flotation cell having an available froth surface area (A froth), the flotation cell having a pulp area (A pulp), where the pulp area (A pulp) is calculated as an average from the cross sectional areas of the tank at the height (h1) of the impeller. A ratio between a height (h) from a bottom of the tank to the froth overflow lip of the froth collection launder and the diameter (D) of the tank at the height (h1) of the impeller (h/D) is less than 1.5.

A flotation separation system for partitioning a slurry comprises a flotation separation cell that comprises a sparger unit and a separation tank. The sparger unit comprises a slurry inlet for receiving a slurry and a gas inlet for introducing a gas into the slurry. The sparging mechanism disperses the gas bubbles within the slurry. A high shear element comprising a rotating shaft and a rotating high shear element mounted to it located within the sparging mechanism shears the gas into a bubble dispersion within the slurry. A slurry outlet discharges the slurry containing the bubble dispersion into the separation tank. An adjustable distributor plate at the slurry outlet restricts the flow of slurry through the slurry outlet. The distributor plate is mounted to the rotating shaft and rotates with the high shear element.

A flotation separation system for partitioning a slurry comprises a flotation separation cell that comprises a sparger unit and a separation tank. The sparger unit comprises a slurry inlet for receiving a slurry and a gas inlet for introducing a gas into the slurry. The sparging mechanism disperses the gas bubbles within the slurry. A high shear element comprising a rotating shaft and a rotating high shear element mounted to it located within the sparging mechanism shears the gas into a bubble dispersion within the slurry. A slurry outlet discharges the slurry containing the bubble dispersion into the separation tank. An adjustable distributor plate at the slurry outlet restricts the flow of slurry through the slurry outlet. The distributor plate is mounted to the rotating shaft and rotates with the high shear element.