Entrainment of Particles into Flotation Froths

Abstract

Papers on entrainment in conventional froth flotation are reviewed and the results related to the structure of froths and their water content. The strong correlation observed between the recovery of gangue and the recovery of water, in both batch and continuous tests, is discussed and compared with the effect of water recovery on the recovery of hydrophobic (valuable) particles. Data on the structure and water content of flotation froths is summarized and an explanation sought for the way in which water, and hence entrained particles, are transported from pulp to froth column to concentrate.