Charged engineered polymer beads/bubbles functionalized with molecules for attracting and attaching to mineral particles of interest for flotation separation

A method comprising:

• providing a synthetic bead or bubble having a solid-phase body with a surface, and being configured with a predetermined electric charge so as to respond to a corresponding predetermined electric field;
• and
• attaching a plurality of molecules to the surface, the molecules comprising a functional group selected for attracting one or more mineral particles of interest to the molecules, wherein the surface is made of a polymer functionalized with the molecules, and wherein the polymer is selected from a group consisting of poly(dimethylsiloxane), polysiloxanates, silicone alkyd copolymer and fluoroalkylsilane.

An apparatus comprising:

• synthetic bead or bubble means having a solid-phase body with a surface, and being configured with a predetermined electric charge so as to respond to a corresponding predetermined electric field;
• and
• molecule means attached to at least part of the surface, the molecules means comprising a functional group selected for attracting and attaching one or more mineral particles of interest to the molecules, wherein the surface is made of a polymer functionalized with the molecules, and wherein the polymer is selected from a group consisting of poly(dimethylsiloxane), polysiloxanates, silicone alkyd copolymer and fluoroalkylsilane.