An apparatus (20) for monitoring flotation performance apparatus comprises an arm (21) having a paddle (22) attached at one end. The apparatus (20) forms a sensor to monitor real-time flotation performance by measuring the drag exerted by the overflowing froth onto a cantilever beam arm. The strain exerted on the beam or arm can be directly correlated to the efficiency of the froth flotation process. Methods for monitoring and controlling a froth flotation process and a method to determine ash content in coal undergoing flotation are also described

Processes for upgrading of a coal product and preparing of a purified coal product are provided. The process comprises the steps of: (i) providing a purified coal composition, wherein the composition is in the form of solid particles, and wherein at least about 90% by volume (% vol) of the solid particles are no greater than about 500 μm in diameter; and (ii) combining the purified coal composition with a solid coal feedstock, in order to create a combined solid-solid blend upgraded coal product.

A method for stabilising a froth or a foam comprising subjecting the froth or foam to vibrations or sound waves having a frequency of less than 20 kHz. The frequency may be less than 1 kHz, for example, a frequency of from 300 Hz to 500 Hz, or from 300 to 450 Hz, or from 300 to 400 Hz. A method for froth flotation is also described.

A separation system is disclosed for separating selected particles from a mixture of particles in a fluid. The system includes a froth flotation vessel into which in use the mixture of particles and fluid are subjected to an upward flow of an introduced gas to form a froth layer which rises above an interface formed between the froth layer and the mixture of particles and fluid, such that a quantity of the selected particles is conveyed out of the vessel by the froth layer to become a first product of the system. The vessel also has a first outlet arranged in use for receiving a flow of some of the mixture of particles and fluid from the vessel, an entry to the first outlet being located in a region proximate to, but below, the interface. The vessel also has a second outlet arranged in use for receiving a flow of some of the mixture of particles and fluid from a region of the vessel which is located below the first outlet. In use the first outlet receives a quantity of the selected particles which were not conveyed out of the vessel by the froth layer, and the second outlet receives a quantity of the selected particles in a first by-product of the system. The first by-product comprises a relatively higher percentage of solids compared to the flow of particles and fluid in the first outlet. The flow of the mixture of particles and fluid from the vessel via the first outlet passes to a classification device, which separates the flow into two or more fractions on the basis of their size or density or a combination of the two.

Present disclosure discloses a method and a system for enhancing the efficiency of froth flotation process for coal beneficiation. The method receives a water hardness value and an agitator speed value corresponding to water and an agitator involved in the froth floatation process. The water hardness value is received from a hardness analyzer. Thereafter, the method analyzes the agitator speed value vis-à-vis an optimal speed value required to achieve one or more target parameter values during the froth floatation process based on the water hardness value. Subsequently, the method implements a pretrained model, based on the analyzing, to adjust the agitator speed value to the optimal speed value in such a manner that the one or more target parameter values are achieved during the froth floatation process. This approach allows continuous optimization of the agitator speed value, which in turn enhances the efficiency of froth flotation process.

The present invention pertains to a composition comprising at least one compound of formula (I) and to the use of said composition for recovering value minerals from ore and other feedstocks by flotation.

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The present invention pertains to a composition comprising at least one compound of formula (I) and to the use of said composition for recovering value minerals from ore and other feedstocks by flotation (formula (I)).

A pre-flotation high efficiency slurry conditioning device for wide-particle-grade flotation, suitable for coal slime flotation. Said device comprises a slurry conditioning drum (15) having a columnar structure on top and an inverted frustrum structure below, an ore slurry outlet (4) is provided at an upper part of a side wall, ore slurry pump separation openings (5) are provided at two sides below the ore slurry outlet (4), ore slurry jet openings (17) are respectively provided at two sides of the columnar structure, and circular cutting isolation plates (11) and flow guide plates (10) are provided in alternation at inner sides of the upper half of the slurry conditioning drum (15); a dual channel jet circulation chemical feed system comprises chemical feed pipes (13), each chemical feed pipe (13) comprises an inlet end, a diffusion end, and a chemical feed pipe opening arranged at a throat area of said pipe, the inlet end is connected to a three-way pipe by means of a centrifugal pump (8), which is connected to an ore slurry inlet (6) and an ore slurry pump separation opening (5), a mixing shaft (7) is provided in the axial direction within the slurry conditioning drum (15), a plurality of mixing impellers (14) are arranged on the mixing shaft (7), and the bottom-most two mixing impellers (14) and the lowest two circular cutting isolation plates (11) are arranged at a same horizontal height. The present apparatus can effectively improve coal slime hydrophobic flocculation and fine slime separation, improve an ore slurry preprocessing effect, and effectively alleviate internal flow field pressure within a flotation device.

A process for separating a solid having two or more components, at least one of which is lyophobic and at least one of which is lyophilic. The process comprises, in a single step, comminuting a mixture of the solid in a first liquid to which one of the components is lyophilic and to which the other component is lyophobic and in a second liquid which is immiscible with the first liquid and which will wet the lyophobic component to form agglomerates or floes of the lyophobic component and the second liquid in a mill having positive transport capability such that the mill causes the mixture to be transported therethrough. The second liquid comprises a bio-oil, bio-diesel or combination thereof. The agglomerates are then separated from the mixture. This process may be used for beneficiating a coal containing ash.

A wide-size-fraction flotation system and process includes feeding coal slime to be floated into a stirrer, adding water to the floating coal slime in the stirrer, stirring, then feeding same into a grading cyclone through a first feeding pump for pre-grading; after grading of the coal slime in the grading cyclone, feeding overflow in the grading cyclone into a flotation column through a second feeding pump for flotation, discharging flotation tailings through an underflow port of the flotation column, collecting flotation concentrates through an overflow port of the flotation column and feeding same into a bubble generator through a fourth feeding pump, and the flotation concentrates passing through the bubble generator and being fed from the bottom of a hydraulic flotation machine; and feeding underflow in the grading cyclone into the hydraulic flotation machine through a third feeding pump, for flotation and recovery.