Froth flotation method and an apparatus for extracting a valuable substance from a slurry
AssigneeOutotec Oyj
InventorPeter Bourke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a froth flotation method and apparatus an upwardly open circular trough (4) having outlets (5) on the outer periphery of the trough is arranged horizontally above the froth phase (F) so that the trough is coaxial with the flotation vessel (1), and said circular trough is rotated around its center axis. A stationary water pipe (6) is arranged above the trough (4). Fresh water (W) is fed via the water pipe (6) into the trough (4) while the trough is rotating, and the water is let to flow by gravity and centrifugal force from the trough (4) via the outlets (5) into the froth phase (F).
Claims13
A froth flotation method for extracting a valuable substance from a slurry (S) comprising a mixture of solid phase, liquid phase and the valuable substance, the method including the steps of
- delivering gas into the slurry (S) in a flotation vessel (1) to infuse gas bubbles into the slurry;
- dispersing the gas bubbles into the slurry said gas bubbles capturing said valuable substance from the slurry and forming a froth phase (F) above the slurry phase said froth phase to be removed from the vessel by overflow over an overflow lip (2) into a froth launder (3), and
- dispersing wash water (W) into the froth phase (F) to wash out undesirable hydrophilic fine particles entrained from the slurry phase to the froth phase,
- characterized by the steps of
- arranging an upwardly open circular trough (4) having a range of distribution outlets (5) on the outer periphery of the trough horizontally above the froth phase (F) so that the trough is coaxial with the flotation vessel (1), and said circular trough is rotated around its center axis,
- arranging a stationary water pipe (6) above the trough (4),
- feeding fresh water (W) via the water pipe (6) into the trough (4) while the trough is rotating, and
- distributing the wash water by gravity and centrifugal force from the trough (4) via the distribution outlets (5) into the froth phase (F).
An apparatus for extracting a valuable substance from a slurry (S) comprising a mixture of solid phase, liquid phase and the valuable substance, the apparatus comprising:
- a flotation vessel (1) having an inlet (12) for feeding slurry into the flotation vessel, said vessel having an overflow lip (2);
- a gas dispersion mechanism (13) for delivering gas into the slurry to infuse gas bubbles into the slurry said gas bubbles being for capturing said substance from the slurry and forming a froth phase (F) above the slurry phase (S);
- a froth launder (3) to receive froth flowing over the overflow lip (2) for removing froth from the flotation vessel, and
- a froth washing device (14) for dispersing wash water into the froth phase (F) to wash out undesirable hydrophilic fine particles entrained from the slurry phase to the froth phase,
- characterized in that the froth washing device (14) comprises:
- an upwardly open circular trough (4) having distribution outlets (5), the trough being disposed horizontally above the froth phase (F),
- rotation means for rotating the circular trough (4) around its center axis, and
- a stationary water pipe (6) above the trough (4) for feeding fresh water (W) into the trough, whereby the wash water is able to flow from the trough via the distribution outlets into the froth phase by gravity and centrifugal force.
13-14. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.