Method and apparatus for the control of a flotation separation process, including parameters of the flotation process and reagent addition to optimize mineral recovery

An apparatus comprising:

• a flotation cell or flotation tank for separating minerals and said cell or tank having an ore solution, gas bubbles and a froth layer;
• an acoustic waveguide placed in said cell or tank and said waveguide interacts with said ore solution and gas bubbles and optimally receives an acoustic attenuation related to the froth layer in said cell or tank, a separate acoustic detection device mounted exterior to the cell or tank which receives the acoustic signal from the acoustic waveguide,
• a signal processor or processing module configured at least to:
• receive signaling containing information about said acoustic attenuation related to said froth layer in said cell or tank from said acoustic detection device;
• and
• determine corresponding signaling containing information about a control characteristic related to the operation of said cell or tank, based at least partly on the signaling received from said acoustic detection device.