METHOD OF FOAM SEPARATION AND FLOATATION Russian patent published in 1996 - IPC

FIELD: enrichment of mineral products. SUBSTANCE: starting material is conditioned with reagents using surfactants and oil-like substances finely divided into wind-water mixtures. Simultaneously, starting material is separated into large-grain and small-grain products. Conditioning of large-grain product is performed with jet stirring of pulp with a given reagent mixture. Resultant excess of fluid constituent of pulp and reagent mixture is transferred into small-grain product. Introduction of a blowing agent and gas in the form of finely divided bulbs (0.02 to 0.2 mm) into the pulp gives rise to a foam layer. Large-grain product is fed onto foam layer, whereas small- grain one is fed into pulp bulk. Separation occurs both in the foam layer and in the pulp bulk yielding, respectively, foam and chamber products. They are removed with simultaneous dehydration resulting in solid and liquid phases. Liquid phase from the chamber product dehydration is fed onto foam layer, while that from the foam product dehydration is directed to the process of conditioning of starting material with reagents and partially into the pulp bulk in the form of a fine wind-water mixture. Ratio of concentration of blowing agent in the pulp to its concentration initializing coalescence of air bulbs ranges from 1.5:1 to 3.0:1. EFFECT: enhanced efficiency of process. 2 cl, 4 dwg