Abstract: A separator device (100) includes a separation chamber (107) defined at its lower end by a fluidization fluid panel (111). The separation chamber (107) receives incoming slurry (113) via a slurry inlet (102). The separator device may be characterized in that means (122) for supplying pre-sheared aerated fluidization fluid is provided above the fluidization fluid panel (111). The means (122) for supplying pre-sheared aerated fluidization fluid includes a novel sparger (119) comprising a flexible perforated membrane which is configured to supplementally shear the pre-sheared aerated fluidization fluid and uniformly distribute microbubbles (129) throughout the separation chamber (107).

Abstract: A flotation circuit (1) is characterised in that it comprises a sparger (8) having a sparging mix conduit or chamber (45); and a tube (31) comprising a flexible perforated membrane disposed within the sparging mix conduit or chamber (45). The tube (31) is configured to receive an aerated fluid (27) comprising a combination of sparger water (13), reagent (17), and sparger air or gas (21) therein, shear the aerated fluid (27) upon passing of the aerated fluid (27) through the flexible perforated membrane of the tube (31), and disperse sheared aerated fluid (27) into the sparging mix conduit or chamber (45) where it is combined with incoming feed slurry (2) or diluted incoming feed slurry (4) moving within the sparging mix conduit or chamber (45) to form reagentized aerated slurry (29) for feeding a flotation apparatus (30).