Abstract: Flotation apparatus for flocculated solid material has a flotation tank alongside a passage for upward flow of liquid carrying the solid material. A wall of the passage on the side towards the tank has a top portion curved over to its free edge to provide a submerged weir over which the liquid passes from the passage into the tank. To prevent turbulence in the liquid on passing over the weir and to prevent a preferential flow path in the flotation tank, the tank itself has, on its side towards the upward flow passage, a side wall which is generally spaced from the side wall of the passage but joins the latter wall away from the said free edge. The tank side wall slopes downwardly away from the passage from a point located inwardly of the tank with respect to the free edge.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for the flotation processing of minerals. The starting material is pretreated by means of flotation agents and is then spread in the form of a controllable thin film over a fixed perforated controllable-surface drum, the so-obtained suspension-film is blown through by an airstream from the inner to the outer side of said drum, and the stability or the composition of the frothed layer or of the unfrothed layer over the surface of the suspension is controlled.

Abstract: The process of separating minerals or metals from a crushed ore mixture of crushed ore, aqueous solution, and flotation agent by passing the mixture from an inlet through free fall into a container so entrapping air during the free fall and encouraging the development of a large quantity of froth, and an apparatus for separating minerals or metals from a crushed ore mixture consisting of a container and a mixture inlet situated above the container so that an air space exists between the inlet and the upper surface of the mixture in the container during operation.

Abstract: A gas-sparged hydrocyclone apparatus and method for achieving separation by flotation in a centrifugal field. The hydrocyclone apparatus is suitably modified so that a gas phase may be dispersed into the liquid vortex created in the hydrocyclone.

Abstract: A froth flotation apparatus for elimination of solid particle impurities contained within a liquid includes a vessel defining a flotation cell which includes an upstanding foam discharge conduit, an inlet conduit communicating with the vessel such that fluid flowing through the inlet conduit and into the vessel moves in a vortical fashion within the vessel, a skimmer, and a sparger. The skimmer consists of a generally cylindrical roller which is rotatably mounted between the discharge conduit and a side wall of the vessel and is buoyant so that it floats on the surface of the fluid within the vessel such that it is rotated by the vortical movement of the fluid within the vessel to prevent buildup of foam and maintain the motion of the fluid within the vessel. The sparger includes a substantially cylindrical porous element mounted on a tubular shaft which is rotatably mounted within the inlet conduit and driven by a motor.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for froth flotation separation of the components of a slurry, having particular utility for the beneficiation of coal by the flotation separation of coal particles from impurities associated therewith such as ash and sulfur. In this arrangement, a primary spray nozzle is positioned above a flotation tank having a water bath therein, and sprays an input slurry through an aeration zone into the surface of the water. The spraying operation creates a froth on the water surface in which a substantial quantity of particulate matter is floating, while other components of the slurry sink into the water bath. A skimming arrangement skims the froth from the water surface as a cleaned or beneficiated product. Moreover, a recycling operation is provided wherein particulate materials which do not float after being sprayed through the primary spray nozzle are recycled to a further recycle spray nozzle to provide a second opportunity for recovery of the recycled particles.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for froth flotation separation of the components of a slurry, having particular utility for the beneficiation of coal by the flotation separation of coal particles from impurities associated therewith such as ash and sulfur. In this arrangement, a spray nozzle is positioned above a flotation tank having a water bath therein, and sprays an input slurry through an aeration zone into the surface of the water. The spraying operation creates a froth on the water surface in which a substantial quantity of particulate matter is floating, while other components of the slurry sink into the water bath. A skimming arrangement skims the froth from the water surface as a cleaned or beneficiated product.

Abstract: An inclined static deoiler and conditioner for treating ore such as coal, phosphate, and the like which combines with liquid to form a slurry prior to froth floation which includes in combination a trough having plural baffles therein which are oriented to cause turbulence in the slurry. End walls on the trough are provided having an inlet and outlet adapted to fasten to piping in which the maximum flow rate is determined by the piping diameter such that liquid entering in the trough is assured of staying substantially at or below the vertical height of the baffles. The through flow within the device is controlled by angulation of the trough which is variable, and baffle configuration.

Abstract: Arrangement for separation of suspensions or emulsions from liquids by flotation having a flotation space widening from the bottom upwards, to be again narrowed from the place of its largest width upwards. The flotation space is formed by a partition wall within a tank, the supply of cleaned liquid terminating into the lower part of the flotation space. The flotated foam is removed at the surface of the top part of the flotation space, with transfer openings above the widest place of the flotation space terminating in a collecting space of cleaned liquid defined by the partition wall and the wall of the tank, a rectifying wall being provided in front of said transfer openings for preventing passage of the flotated suspension to the collecting space of cleaned liquid.

Abstract: The solid organic materials contained in wet-process phosphoric acid are removed by froth flotation in a flotation cell in which the solid organic materials overflow with the foam from the top of the cell and the acid, after passing through the cell, is passed to extraction. The froth flotation process can also be used to remove defoamer and organic soluble materials from the wet-process phosphoric acid. Uranium in the partially purified phosphoric acid product is extracted with a suitable organic extractant, typically a mixture of mono- and di-(alkylphenyl) esters of orthophosphoric acid.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for concentrating an ore to recover valuable minerals from the ore is disclosed. The apparatus is based upon flotation separation techniques and comprises a trough into which is fed a slurry of ore particles which have been conditioned with a flotation reagent. The trough has a side extending outwardly forming a downwardly sloping flat table. The slurry of conditioned ore particles flows out of the trough and downwardly along the sloping table. Positioned along the sloping table is a disperser for dispersing larger particles up and into the slurry, which larger particles are generally along the surface of the sloping table. The sloping table is equipped with at least one aerator positioned along the flow path of the slurry, downstream of the disperser which aerates the conditioned ore slurry. The particles coated with the flotation reagent form agglomerates with gas bubbles produced by the aerator.

Abstract: A froth separation apparatus is provided having a separation container of generally rectangular form having two spaced generally parallel vertical sides, two generally parallel ends and a bottom, an influent feed delivering a suspension of solids in liquid at spaced points along the top of the separation container, a reagent inlet into the influent feed in advance of the separation container, diagonal froth retention screen means extending across the separation container from end to end and from a line intermediate the top and bottom of one side wall to a line adjacent the bottom of the other side wall, froth creating means in the separation container above said screen means, a weir discharge means on the said other side wall at the bottom thereof adjacent the screen means line for removal of froth and outlet means at the bottom of said one side for tailings discharge.

Abstract: Coarse particles of up to 3 mm are floated in a cylindrical froth flotation cell in which the agitation impeller has a cover preventing fluid from being drawn in above. Air is supplied from a ring around the periphery of the cell and situated above the cover. Baffles project radially inwardly up to a short distance from the top. Froth is allowed to overflow around the periphery of the cell. The opposed inlet and outlet are disposed respectively below the level and at the level of the impeller. The arrangement is such that the liquid below the layer of froth is substantially quiescent.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating ink from pulped inked paper: a suspension of pulped paper and chemicals enters a cylindrical container tangentially near the container bottom and rotates around the interior of the container; the ink and chemicals form a foam that floats off the suspension of paper fibers; the suspension exits from the container tangentially near the container top; a funnel at the top of the container; a foam outlet near the axis of the container from the funnel; a vortex generator at the bottom of the container, which blows upwardly creating a vortex in the suspension; means disperse air in the suspension in the container inlet before the suspension enters the container through the container inlet; the dispersing means either comprises a rotor cooperating with a stator, or comprises deflector plates in the container inlet; air is supplied to the inlet at the dispersion means rotor or deflector plates; the deflector plates may be washed clean.

Abstract: Apparatus for utilizing the flotation separation process employs first and second chambers, the first chamber being positioned above the second chamber so that the tailings from the first chamber may be gravity fed into the second chamber. Both chambers include a plurality of spaced, air bubble infusers, each of which are fed by air and water pipes extending across the corresponding chamber. A plug and throat arrangement in a bulkhead between the first and second chambers allows control over the flow of tailings from the first chamber into the second chamber. Each infuser is designed so as to provide an even spread of the air bubbles emitted therefrom.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with an improved flotation plant in which gassed solid particles can be removed from a carrying liquid stream by a separating means. The invention proposes curving the path along which the gassed stream passes upstream of the separating means to facilitate the separation of the gassed and ungassed components.

Abstract: Aeration flotation bar comprising a shaft mounted in a tank for rotation about a vertical axis and having a plurality of wedge configured bar members. Air through the shaft is distributed lengthwise through each wedge bar member simultaneously and from each wedge bar member is emitted as a fine jet through multiple jet bores formed in the trailing surface of the wedge bars. The fine air jets create a large mass of fine air bubbles which in the aggregate provide more surface for material such as coal or other flotable materials to adhere to thereby increasing the reclamation output of the tank or cell and increasing the efficiency of the tank or cell. In addition, the location of the fine jets are such that the fine air jet streams act on the area of the tank or cell where sanding is most likely to occur and thus eliminate or minimize the sanding tendency.

Abstract: Apparatus for clarifying treated waste water in which the waste water is floated and settled in a flotation tank equipped with a rotatable carriage provided with multi-scoop means. The multi-scoop means is rotated as it is passed through the upper strata of the treated waste water for the removal of floated particles or sludge with no appreciable disturbance of the main body of waste water. The multi-scoop carries the floated particles or sludge to a sludge outlet in an efficient manner without clogging by an unique construction self-cleaning in operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing oily sludge from an installation bottom includes at least one gas sparge pipe, a collector in the form of a sloping inverted channel positioned above the sparge pipe so that sludge lifted by gas from the sparge pipe rises up into the collector, a riser pipe connected to the collector, and a gutter to which entrained sludge is fed by the collector via the riser pipe.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing ore by a combined milling, froth flotation and size classifying operation, wherein A milling chamber contains elastomeric milling bodies situated between first and second screens. The milling chamber is provided with an agitating means for vertical vibration of the milling bodies. A first outlet on the milling chamber removes froth. A second outlet below the first and lowermost screen removes the coarser components.

Abstract: Apparatus that removes solids from a liquid by flotation and by sedimentation has a uniform surface distribution of small bubbles for making solids float. Large bubbles which would cause turbulence and uneven bubble flow are confined and eliminated.