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.

A flotation cell for treating particles suspended in slurry. The flotation cell includes a fluidized bed, a recovery zone at the upper part of the flotation cell, a launder lip and a recovery launder, and a tailings outlet. A primary slurry feed including fresh slurry is arranged to be fed into the flotation cell by a first feed inlet at a first position; and a secondary slurry feed including at least slurry recirculated from a flotation cell is arranged to be fed into the fluidized bed by a second feed inlet at a second position, below the first position. The slurry recirculated from the flotation cell is obtained at a third position between the recovery launder and the tailings outlet. A use of the flotation cell as well as a method for treating particles suspended in slurry are also disclosed.

A flotation cell for treating particles suspended in slurry. The flotation cell includes a fluidized bed; a recovery zone at an upper part of the flotation cell; a launder lip and a recovery launder; a tailings outlet arranged below the recovery launder; and a first feed inlet arranged to supply a primary slurry feed comprising fresh slurry into the fluidized bed at a first position. The flotation cell has a height measured from the bottom of the flotation cell to the launder lip. The flotation cell includes an agitator arranged adjacent to the bottom of the fluidized bed.

A self-aspirated froth flotation cell 100 may include a slurry vortex stabilizer 166 having an annular body 234 with an upper annular edge 176 and an aperture 180 extending through a central region of the annular body 234. The aperture 180 may have an inner surface 182 bounded between an upper inner edge 178 and a lower inner edge 200 that is configured to allow the drive shaft 142 to rotate freely therein in close proximity to the inner surface 182. The slurry vortex stabilizer 166 may have an annular undersurface 210 configured with a inner first portion 212, a second portion 236 provided around the first portion 212, and an annular intersection, transition, or inflection 214 therebetween. A sloped upper surface 242 which tapers downwardly towards the central region of the annular body 234 as it approaches the aperture 180 forms a lower fluid surface boundary within a standpipe 152 of the self-aspirated froth flotation cell 100.

A self-aspirated froth flotation cell 100 may include a slurry vortex stabilizer 166 having an annular body 234 with an upper annular edge 176 and an aperture 180 extending through a central region of the annular body 234. The aperture 180 may have an inner surface 182 bounded between an upper inner edge 178 and a lower inner edge 200 that is configured to allow the drive shaft 142 to rotate freely therein in close proximity to the inner surface 182. The slurry vortex stabilizer 166 may have an annular undersurface 210 configured with a inner first portion 212, a second portion 236 provided around the first portion 212, and an annular intersection, transition, or inflection 214 therebetween. A sloped upper surface 242 which tapers downwardly towards the central region of the annular body 234 as it approaches the aperture 180 forms a lower fluid surface boundary within a standpipe 152 of the self-aspirated froth flotation cell 100.

A froth collection launder for a collection of froth from a mineral flotation includes a first and a second sidewall which are joined to form a bottom including a tip extending along the bottom, the first sidewall including a first end and the second sidewall including a second end at their open ends, at least one of the first and the second ends includes a froth overflow lip, and when the froth collection launder is positioned at its operation position a centre line is located in the middle of the first and the second end in the cross direction (x) of the froth collection launder. The tip is located between the centre line and one of the first and the second end in the cross direction (x) of the froth collection launder and the tip forms the lowest point of the froth collection launder.

A froth collection launder for a collection of froth from a mineral flotation includes a first and a second sidewall which are joined to form a bottom including a tip extending along the bottom, the first sidewall including a first end and the second sidewall including a second end at their open ends, at least one of the first and the second ends includes a froth overflow lip, and when the froth collection launder is positioned at its operation position a centre line is located in the middle of the first and the second end in the cross direction (x) of the froth collection launder. The tip is located between the centre line and one of the first and the second end in the cross direction (x) of the froth collection launder and the tip forms the lowest point of the froth collection launder.

Provided are a method and apparatus for treating a feed stream for a flotation device comprising a mechanical agitator in a tank, the feed stream comprising solid particles. The method comprises generating microbubbles in a diluation water stream, mixing the diluation water stream with the feed stream to facilitate attachment of the microbubbles to the solid particles in the feed stream and generate bubbles for attachment to microbubble-attached solid particles, and fluidly connecting the feed stream to the flotation device. The apparatus comprises a feed stream conduit fluidly connected to the flotation device, a diluation water stream conduit fluidly connected to the feed stream conduit for conveying the diluation water stream to the feed stream, and a microbubble generator connected to the diluation water stream conduit for generating microbubbles in the fluid stream.

Provided are a method and apparatus for treating a feed stream for a flotation device comprising a mechanical agitator in a tank, the feed stream comprising solid particles. The method comprises generating microbubbles in a diluation water stream, mixing the diluation water stream with the feed stream to facilitate attachment of the microbubbles to the solid particles in the feed stream and generate bubbles for attachment to microbubble-attached solid particles, and fluidly connecting the feed stream to the flotation device. The apparatus comprises a feed stream conduit fluidly connected to the flotation device, a diluation water stream conduit fluidly connected to the feed stream conduit for conveying the diluation water stream to the feed stream, and a microbubble generator connected to the diluation water stream conduit for generating microbubbles in the fluid stream.

A method and apparatus is disclosed for separating an amount of an amphiphilic contaminant substance such as PFAS from water. The method comprising the steps of admitting the water which contains the substance into a flotation cell chamber, and then introducing a flow of gas thereinto. The gas is introduced by several different apparatus options for efficient aeration of the chamber, depending on the water being treated. The introduced gas produces a froth layer which is formed at, and which rises above, an interface with the contents of the chamber. The froth layer includes an amount of water and also a concentrated amount of the contaminant substance when compared with its initial concentration. The process then involves collapsing and removing the froth layer, with several options for removing the PFAS from that liquid by re-flotation to reconcentrate the PFAS, or absorption onto a solid substrate material. The treated water an also pass out of the chamber through an absorptive treatment device to remove an amount of the substance not already recovered in the foamate.