PROCEDURE AND APPARATUS FOR THE CONCENTRATION OF HYDROPHOBIC MATERIALS

摘要

A procedure and apparatus for the concentration by flotation of hydrophobic materials from a pulp of hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials contained in an aqueous medium by the addition of a gas involves first and second devices operating in series. Gas and pulp are supplied continuously to the first device consisting of a gas-pulp mixer containing solid mixing objects with a density lower than that of the pulp to be processed. The pulp and gas pass through interstices of the mixing objects generating a plurality of bubbles. A pulp - bubble mixture leaves the gas-pulp mixer by an inclined bottom end thereof through discharge slots having a width lesser than the diameter of the solid mixing objects. The discharged pulp - bubble mixture is fed to the second device consisting of a froth separating tank with an inclined bottom, having discharge orifices with valves for controlling the flow rates of tailings.