Flotation Circuits
In a beneficiation plant such as iron ore processing , gold ore processing and nonmetallic ore processing ,the flotation process is usually adopted. Flotation is carried out as a continuous operation in a series or bank of cells. This increases the floating time, allowing ample opportunity for particle-bubble attachment to occur. The residence time of particles in the bank of cells range from 5 to 15 minutes. The rate at which the particles float will depend on particle composition, pulp density, particle size and degree of turbulence in the cell. The arrangement of a number of cells in series allows the collection of different products from the various cells. For example, liberated particles in general float more rapidly than composite particles so that a high grade concentrate can be collected from the first few cells in a bank and froth from the remaining cells can be collected as a middling concentrate. Quite often the grade of concentrate recovered from a single stage of flo...