Sparger system including jet stream aerator

In combination, a sparger assembly and a flotation separation column for the separation of a froth flotation concentration of minerals in a liquid/solid slurry in said flotation separation column, said flotation separation column having an aperture in the sidewall thereof, said combination comprising:

• said flotation separation column including a central axis extending therethrough;
• and
• said sparger assembly comprising:
• a sparger pipe having a first end in flow communication with a source of gas-containing fluid under pressure used in said froth flotation concentration of minerals in a liquid/solid slurry in said flotation separation column and extending to a second end in communication with said froth flotation separation concentration of minerals in a liquid/solid slurry in said flotation separation column, said sparger pipe having a portion thereof extending through said aperture in the sidewall of said flotation separation column, said sparger pipe having a portion thereof sealingly engaging a portion of the sidewall of said flotation separation column;
• and
• a self-regulating, self-cleaning resilient duck bill type check valve nozzle connected to the second end of the sparger pipe, the check valve type nozzle allowing the flow of gas-containing fluid under pressure therethrough into said froth flotation concentration of minerals in a liquid/solid slurry in said flotation separation column, substantially preventing the flow of said froth flotation concentration of minerals in a liquid/solid slurry from said flotation separation column into the sparger pipe, creating back pressure to the flow of fluid used in the froth flotation concentration of minerals in a liquid/solid slurry in said flotation separation column, and remaining substantially free of solid build-up from said froth flotation concentration of minerals in a liquid/solid slurry during the separation of said froth flotation concentration of minerals in a liquid/solid slurry in said separation flotation column.

In combination, a sparger assembly and an aeration device for the flotation separation of a first material from a second material in a mixture containing said first material and said second material located in said aeration device, said combination comprising:

• said aeration device for the flotation separation of a first material from a second material in a mixture located therein including a wall having at least one aperture therein;
• and
• said sparger assembly comprising:
• a sparger pipe having a first end in flow communication with a source of gas-containing fluid under pressure used in said flotation separation of a first material from a second material in a mixture in said aeration device and extending to a second end in communication with said flotation separation of a first material from a second material in a mixture in said aeration device, said sparger pipe having a portion thereof extending through the aperture in the wall of said aeration device, said sparger pipe having a portion thereof sealingly engaging a portion of the wall of said aeration device;
• and
• a self-regulating, self-cleaning resilient duck bill type check valve nozzle connected to the second end of the sparger pipe, said resilient duck bill type check valve nozzle allowing the flow of gas-containing fluid under pressure therethrough into said aeration device for the flotation separation of a first material from a second material in a mixture in said aeration device, substantially preventing the flow of said mixture from said aeration device into the sparger pipe, creating back pressure to the flow of fluid used in the flotation separation of a first material from a second material in said mixture in said aeration device, and remaining substantially free of build-up of said mixture during the flotation separation of said first material from said second material in said mixture in said aeration device.