A flotation arrangement for treating mineral ore particles suspended in slurry. The arrangement includes a primary line including at least two primary flotation cells, a first secondary line, and a second secondary line downstream of the first secondary line. In the arrangement, underflow from a secondary line is arranged to flow to the last of the at least one primary flotation cells from which the primary overflow was received, or to a primary flotation cell downstream of the last of the at least one primary flotation cells from which the primary overflow was received. The disclosure further relates a use of a flotation arrangement, to a flotation plant and to a flotation method.

A flotation arrangement for treating mineral ore particles suspended in slurry. The arrangement includes a primary line including at least two primary flotation cells, a first secondary line, and a second secondary line downstream of the first secondary line. In the arrangement, underflow from a secondary line is arranged to flow to the last of the at least one primary flotation cells from which the primary overflow was received, or to a primary flotation cell downstream of the last of the at least one primary flotation cells from which the primary overflow was received. The disclosure further relates a use of a flotation arrangement, to a flotation plant and to a flotation method.

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.

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 microflotation system comprises a flotation tank with a dispersion water feed line in which an expansion valve arrangement is disposed. An adjusting apparatus is configured to adjust a flow rate of the expansion valve arrangement and an electronic control is connected to the adjusting apparatus. A measuring apparatus is disposed downstream from the expansion valve arrangement for detecting a size distribution of gas bubbles and the electronic control is configured to set the flow rate depending on a size distribution detected with the measuring apparatus.

A flotation line for treating mineral ore particles suspended in slurry, including at least three flotation units arranged in fluid connection with each other for allowing gravity-driven slurry flow between flotation units, and a feed inlet for supplying slurry into a first flotation unit; wherein at least three flotation units are configured to be uniplanar, each flotation unit includes at least one flotation cell; and wherein the launder lip height of each uniplanar flotation unit is lower than the launder lip height of the preceding uniplanar flotation unit in the direction of the slurry flow, so that an angle of sloping between a first uniplanar flotation cell, equipped with a launder lip and being larger than 150 m.sup.3, and a last uniplanar flotation cell, equipped with a launder lip and being larger than 40 m.sup.3, is formed; and the angle is 1.5 to 10 degrees relative to horizontal.

There is disclosed processes and systems for improving the efficiency of the separation of insoluble contaminants from a fluid in a floatation unit.

A separation unit for separating contaminants, such as oil, from water comprises at least one inlet section and a separation tank having an outlet for effluent, an outlet for liquid reject, and an outlet for gas. The inlet section comprises an inlet for influent, a gas injector for injecting gas into the influent, a turbulent mixing assembly for mixing the influent and the gas, and a diffuser for reducing a flow velocity of the mixed influent and gas. The separation unit is adapted to control a level of a gas-liquid interface in the tank by regulating leakage of gas using a liquid reject valve in the outlet for liquid reject and/or a gas reject valve in the outlet for gas. The separation unit maintains the level of the liquid interface below an entrance of the outlet for liquid reject during a normal mode of operation, and, during a fluid reject mode of operation, opens the liquid reject valve and raises the level of the liquid interface to be equal to or above the entrance of the outlet for liquid reject.

An insert designed for use with a protein skimmer is disclosed. The insert includes one or more tubes that define an opening with a diameter. This diameter is designed to be smaller than the protein skimmer neck's diameter. The one or more tubes are insertable and retained by the protein skimmer neck to adjust the effective diameter of the protein skimmer neck's opening.

A system for recovering fat, oil and grease (FOG) from wastewater has multiple annular flotation zones in a concentric configuration surrounding a central column to create progressively increasing surface areas for FOG and solid particles flotation, and thereby enhance FOG recovery and removal. Each flotation zone is equipped with an independent pressurized micro air and ozone bubbles distribution system. A controlled amount of ozone can be injected into the wastewater along with recirculated effluent and micro-size air bubbles. Upon the release of pressurized air-ozone-water mixture, micro-size bubbles are generated and distributed in each flotation zone to effectively float up FOG and solid particles in the wastewater stream.