Flotation line

A flotation line for treating mineral ore particles suspended in slurry, comprising a scavenger part with at least two scavenger flotation cells for the separation of slurry into a first underflow and a first overflow;

• and a scavenger cleaner part comprising at least two scavenger cleaner flotation cells for the separation of slurry into a second overflow and a second underflow wherein
• the first overflow from the scavenger flotation cells is arranged to flow into a regrinding unit and then into the scavenger cleaner part;
• the first underflow from the last scavenger flotation cell of the flotation line and the second underflow from the last scavenger cleaner flotation cell of the flotation line is arranged to be removed from the flotation line as tailings;
• at least 30% of the flotation volume in the flotation line comprises a mechanical agitator comprising a system for introducing flotation gas into the flotation cells;
• the flotation cells of the flotation line are connected in series and arranged in fluid communication so that a subsequent flotation cell is arranged to receive the first or the second underflow from a previous flotation cell as slurry infeed;
• wherein the scavenger part or the scavenger cleaner part comprises a flotation cell with blast tubes for introducing slurry infeed into the flotation cell;
• or in that the scavenger part or the scavenger cleaner part is followed by the flotation cell with the blast tubes for introducing slurry infeed into the flotation cell;
• the flotation cell with the blast tubes configured to receive the first underflow from the scavenger flotation cell or the second underflow from the scavenger cleaner flotation cell as slurry infeed;
• and wherein each of the blast tubes comprises
• an inlet nozzle for feeding a slurry infeed into the blast tube,
• an inlet for pressurized gas, the slurry infeed subjected to the pressurized gas as it is discharged from the inlet nozzle,
• an elongated chamber arranged to receive under pressure the slurry infeed, and
• an outlet nozzle configured to restrict flow of slurry infeed from the outlet nozzle, to maintain slurry infeed in the elongated chamber under pressure, and to induce a supersonic shockwave into the slurry infeed as it exits the blast tube.