Abstract: The disclosure herein describes a method for the separation of hydrophobic from hydrophilic materials in a liquid suspension by means of gas bubbles and a flow of water that drags the hydrophobic material upwards. A distinctive feature of the method is an upward flow of water countercurrent to the flow of settling hydrophilic particles. The disclosure describes a cell in which gas is caused to disperse into an ascending flow of liquid and in which a feed port is provided to introduce particles in a flow countercurrent to that of the bubbles and water.

Abstract: A process for recovery of phosphates in ores with silico-carbonate gangue:(1) overall flotation of the ore with a collector comprising essentially a phosphoric ester in an amount and under conditions capable of causing the silicate compounds to pass into the flotation residue, and in recovering a float product containing the phosphate and carbonate compounds.(2) conditioning the float product in an acid medium for a length of time sufficient to cause the flotation of carbonates, while the phosphates constituting the valuable product desired, remain in the residue.

Abstract: The invention relates to the concentration by flotation of fine mesh size and/or oxidized ores.The invention consists in using a chelating agent selected from the .beta.-diketones as flotation reagents in a conventional flotation process. Fine mesh size ores and/or oxidized ores, notably oxidized copper, lead or zinc ores with carbonated and/or silicated gangue can also be used as starting materials.Application:making use as starting materials of ores which are difficult to cause to float by conventional methods.