Flotation method and apparatus

摘要

Flotation apparatus (10) for removing finely divided bodies of an insoluble substance dispersed in an aqueous medium, such as oil and solids dispersed in water, comprises a vertical flotation column (12) having a feed inlet (14) and an outlet (22) for the aqueous medium, a sparging system (16) for generating gas bubbles rising upwardly in the aqueous medium to capture and raise the finely divided bodies of the insoluble substance to the surface of the aqueous medium in the column to form a layer (31) of the insoluble substance on the surface of the aqueous medium, a launder (18) for receiving an overflow of the insoluble substance and an outlet (20) for the insoluble substance in the launder. The apparatus (10) can be used in both countercurrent and co-current fashion. In a particular embodiment, the apparatus includes a mechanism for the intermittent dumping of the layer (31) of insoluble substance from the column (12).