Flotation, also known as froth flotation or mineral flotation, is a beneficiation technique that separates valuable minerals from gangue minerals at the gas-liquid-solid interface by exploiting differences in the surface properties of various minerals in the ore. It is also referred to as “interfacial separation.” Any process that directly or indirectly utilizes interfacial properties to achieve particle separation based on differences in the surface characteristics of mineral particles is called flotation.
The surface properties of minerals refer to the physical and chemical characteristics of mineral particles, such as surface wettability, surface charge, types of chemical bonds, saturation, and reactivity of surface atoms. Different mineral particles exhibit certain variations in their surface properties. By leveraging these differences and utilizing interfacial interactions, mineral separation and enrichment can be achieved. Therefore, the flotation process involves the gas-liquid-solid three-phase interface.
The surface properties of minerals can be artificially modified to enhance the differences between valuable and gangue mineral particles, thereby facilitating their separation. In flotation, reagents are typically used to alter the surface properties of minerals, amplifying the disparities in their surface characteristics and adjusting or controlling their hydrophobicity. This manipulation regulates the flotation behavior of minerals to achieve better separation results. Consequently, the application and advancement of flotation technology are closely tied to the development of flotation reagents.
Unlike density or magnetic susceptibility—mineral properties that are more difficult to alter—the surface properties of mineral particles can generally be artificially adjusted to create the necessary inter-mineral differences for effective separation. As a result, flotation is widely applied in mineral beneficiation and is often regarded as a universal beneficiation method. It is particularly effective and extensively used for the separation of fine and ultra-fine materials.
Post time: Nov-13-2025