Method and system for releasing mineral from synthetic bubbles and beads

An apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of synthetic beads carrying mineral particles, each of the synthetic beads made of a synthetic material having a surface and a plurality of molecules attached to the surface, the molecules comprising a functional group having a chemical bond for attracting one or more of the mineral particles to the molecules so as to cause the mineral particles to attach to synthetic beads, the surface comprising a coating for providing the plurality of molecules, the coating being made of a coating material different from the synthetic material, the coating material comprising a hydrophobic chemical selected from the group consisting of polysiloxanates, poly(dimethylsiloxane) and fluoroalkysilane;
• and a releasing apparatus configured to interrupt the chemical bond of the functional group so as to remove the mineral particles from the synthetic beads.