An electroflotation apparatus for removing impurities from waste water is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an electrolytic cell for treating the waste water and generating a flock containing the impurities as well as an outlet pipe having a linear central axis located co-axially with the electrolytic cell for passing the water and flock from the electrolytic cell to a separation area. The outlet pipe comprises a first end connected to the electrolytic cell and having a first diameter, as well as a second end through which the treated water and flock exit the outlet pipe, the second end having a second diameter. A length extends between the first diameter and the second diameter. The ratio of the second diameter to the first diameter is between 1.5:1 and 6:1. The ratio of the length to the first diameter is between 7:1 and 45:1. The outlet pipe reduces the turbulence of the treated water from the electrolytic cell before the treated water is passed to the separation area such that aggregation of the flock in the separation area is increased.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a foam fractionation method and system that include a foam collection container having a body, a collection tube coupled to the collection container, and a foam collection conduit coupled with foam removal piping disposed within a chamber formed by the body of the collection cone. The collection container and the collection tube are coupled to allow for pressurization within the chamber. A mouth of the foam collection conduit is operable to receive foam.

A method of using dissolved air flotation in a flotation cell to filter water is provided. The method involves creating first and second air-water mixtures and discharging the first air-water mixture with a current in the flotation cell and the second air-water mixture countercurrent to the direction of flow in the flotation cell. The bubbles created when the air is released separate solids out of the water.

A method of removing metal particles from a contaminated metalworking fluid comprising emulsion droplets and metal particles includes pressurizing a first clean metalworking fluid with gas to provide an aerated metalworking fluid; releasing the pressure of the aerated metalworking fluid to form a plurality of bubbles; applying a shear force to the contaminated metalworking fluid to separate the emulsion droplets from the metal particles; flowing the contaminated metalworking fluid with the aerated metalworking fluid in a laminar flow to form a combined fluid, wherein the flowing occurs during the formation of the plurality of bubbles and while the emulsion droplets are separated from the metal particles, and wherein the laminar flow lasts for a time sufficient for the plurality of bubbles to attach to the metal particles; releasing the combined fluid into a flotation tank; and removing the metal particles to form a second clean metalworking fluid.

A method of removing metal particles from a contaminated metalworking fluid comprising emulsion droplets and metal particles includes pressurizing a first clean metalworking fluid with gas to provide an aerated metalworking fluid; releasing the pressure of the aerated metalworking fluid to form a plurality of bubbles; applying a shear force to the contaminated metalworking fluid to separate the emulsion droplets from the metal particles; flowing the contaminated metalworking fluid with the aerated metalworking fluid in a laminar flow to form a combined fluid, wherein the flowing occurs during the formation of the plurality of bubbles and while the emulsion droplets are separated from the metal particles, and wherein the laminar flow lasts for a time sufficient for the plurality of bubbles to attach to the metal particles; releasing the combined fluid into a flotation tank; and removing the metal particles to form a second clean metalworking fluid.

A flotation line for treating mineral ore particles suspended in slurry is disclosed. The flotation line includes a scavenger part and a scavenger cleaner part. The flotation line is characterized in that the scavenger part or the scavenger cleaner part includes a flotation cell with blast tubes for introducing slurry infeed into the flotation cell; or in that the scavenger part or the scavenger cleaner part is followed by a flotation cell with blast tubes for introducing slurry infeed into the flotation cell. Further, a use of the flotation line is presented, as well as a flotation plant including a flotation line according to the invention.

Separation of hydrophobic particles from a mixture of particles in a fluid is performed by providing a fluidized bed as a relatively non-turbulent contacting mechanism in a flotation cell incorporating a settling chamber located immediately above the fluidized bed. Hydrophobic particles attach to bubbles in the fluidized bed and rise to the interface with the settling chamber where non-hydrophobic particles flow over the lip of an internal launder and are removed as tailings at. The hydrophobic particles attached to bubbles float upwardly in the relatively placid settling chamber where unwanted gangue can fall back to interface. The bubbles form a froth layer at the upper surface of the settling chamber, and flow over the launder lip carrying the hydrophobic particles. An operation of the apparatus is kept stable by recirculating fluid from the settling chamber via pip and pump to mix with new feed entering at duct.

A dissolved gas flotation system including a flotation cell having an inlet and an outlet defining a direction of flow along a longitudinal axis extending from the inlet to the outlet. The flotation cell has a top and a bottom to define a cell depth extending from the top of the flotation cell to the bottom of the flotation cell in a direction of a transverse axis transvers to the longitudinal axis. A first means discharges a first dissolved gas and bubble mix in a first direction adjacent the inlet; and a second means discharge a second dissolved gas and bubble mix in a second direction adjacent the outlet counter-current to the first direction.

The present invention provides new techniques related to magnetically controllable and/or steerable froth for use in separation processes of mineral-bearing ore and bitumen. Apparatus is provided featuring a processor configured to contain a fluidic medium having a material-of-interest and also having a surfactant with magnetic properties so as to cause the formation of a froth layer that contains at least some of the material-of-interest and is magnetically responsive; and a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field and provide non-mechanical mixing and steering/driving of the froth layer in the processor. The material-of-interest may be mineral-bearing ore particles or bitumen. The processor includes a flotation tank, a primary separation vessel (PSV), or a pipe, including a tailings pipeline. The pipe has a non-magnetic pipe section, and the magnetic field generator includes a magnetic coil arranged in relation to non-magnetic pipe section to generate the magnetic field and provide the non-mechanical mixing and steering/driving of the froth layer in the pipe.

An apparatus and process for beneficiating ores in an economic and environmentally friendly manner can often beneficiate ores, often from less than 20% concentration, to over 70%, an increase of over 50 percentage points, or a 250% increase. The apparatus and process may further by utilized for removing chemical contaminants, such as hydrocarbons, from solid media such as, but not limited to, soil and drill cuttings. An aqueous slurry of the material is pumped as a slurry through a -inch to 4-inch nozzle, for example, to collide with a stationary plate in an impact chamber at high velocities. The impact partially and preferentially disassociates these materials. The post impact slurry exiting the impact chamber may be usable as-is, or may be further treated, as desired, by secondary component material separation methods, such as gravity, magnetic, mechanical or the like.