Flotation apparatus and process

A flotation apparatus including: an elongate vertical riser (142) in which a cocurrent flow of gas/slurry liquid mixture rises upwards to a discharge mouth at its top end; an aeration unit (140) provided at a lower end of the riser; a separation unit (150) provided at the top end of the riser; and wherein the height of the riser is selected to produce substantially turbulence free flow in which a high gas lift occurs in the riser such that a pressure drop between the liquid inlet and the discharge outlet of the aeration unit is sufficient to produce gas particle dispersion and recirculation of the slurry liquid through the flotation apparatus.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a flotation process and apparatus and 
relates particularly, though not exclusively, to aeration of a 
liquid/slurry in mineral flotation apparatus. 
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
U.S. Ser. No. 08/064,108 describes a method and apparatus for gas particle 
formation in which the desired size of gas particles can be readily 
controlled and a relatively uniform distribution of gas particles can be 
achieved irrespective of the gas flow rates required by the process. Also 
described is a flotation apparatus and process which employs the gas 
dispersion unit or aerator to generate gas particle dispersion and 
recirculation of the slurry. 
Froth flotation is a process typically used for concentrating values from 
low-grade ores. After/during fine grinding the ore is mixed with water to 
form a slurry. Chemicals are added to the slurry to preferentially develop 
differences in surface characteristics between the various mineral species 
present. The slurry is then copiously aerated and the preferred 
(hydrophobic) mineral species cling to bubbles and float as a mineralised 
froth which is removed for further processing. 
It is well established that a key factor in the performance of the 
flotation technique is the size, volume and distribution of gas particles 
or air bubbles that can be dispersed into the slurry. If a large volume of 
gas particles can be injected into and uniformly distributed throughout 
the slurry a high gas lift is produced. 
The aeration unit of U.S. Ser. No. 08/064,108 demonstrated that if a high 
gas lift is maintained, sufficient pressure drop can be produced between 
the liquid inlet and the discharge outlet of the aeration unit to generate 
gas particle dispersion as well as recirculation of the slurry through the 
flotation apparatus, thereby using the gas energy to drive the process. It 
has been realised that this way of operating a flotation apparatus and 
process is not limited to using the particular aeration unit described in 
U.S. Ser. No. 08/064,108. Any suitable aeration unit that is capable of 
generating similar high air lift values can be employed to achieve the 
same effect. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a 
flotation apparatus comprising: 
an elongate vertical riser having an aeration unit for aerating a cocurrent 
flow of gas/slurry mixture rising upwards in the riser, the aeration unit 
having a liquid inlet and a discharge outlet; and 
means for generating substantially turbulence free flow in which a high gas 
lift occurs in said riser such that a pressure drop between the liquid 
inlet and the discharge outlet of the aeration unit is sufficient to 
produce gas particular dispersion and recirculation of the surry through 
the flotation apparatus. 
Preferably the apparatus further comprises a reactor vessel provided 
between the aeration unit and the riser, said reactor vessel having a 
larger cross-sectional area than said riser wherein the reactor is adapted 
to facilitate uniform gas dispersion, in use, but to minimise 
recombination of gas particles in a gas/slurry mixture formed therein. 
Advantageously the riser has a flared end section at its upper end adapted 
to further slow down the flow of the gas/slurry mixture rising in the 
riser whereby, in use, the mixture slows down sufficiently for gas 
particles in the form of froth to separate from the slurry liquid at a 
discharge mouth of the riser. Typically said riser discharges into a 
separation unit of the apparatus in which gas particles in the form of 
froth are separated from the slurry liquid, and wherein the separated 
slurry liquid recovered from the separation unit can be recirculated 
through the aeration unit to increase the probability of values attachment 
to the gas particles. 
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a 
flotation process comprising the steps of: 
aerating a cocurrent flow of gas/slurry mixture rising upwards in an 
elongate vertical riser; 
generating substantially turbulence free flow in which a high gas lift 
occurs in said riser from gas particles formed by an aeration unit; 
generating a pressure drop between a liquid inlet and a discharge outlet of 
the aeration unit which is sufficient to produce gas particle dispersion 
and recirculation of the slurry through the flotation apparatus, thereby 
using the gas energy to drive the process. 
Preferably the process further comprises the step of facilitating uniform 
gas dispersion whilst inhibiting recombination of gas particles adjacent 
the discharge outlet of the aeration unit, such that most of the kinetic 
energy of the gas particles is dispersed before they enter the riser. 
Typically the process further comprises the steps of further slowing down 
the flow of gas/slurry mixture rising in the riser as it approaches a 
discharge mouth of the riser, and separating gas particles in the form of 
froth from unattached slurry liquid at the discharge mouth of the riser. 
Advantageously the process further comprises the step of recirculating the 
separated slurry liquid through the aeration unit such that the volume of 
slurry liquid recirculated is between 4 to 20 times the slurry feed flow, 
thereby increasing the probability of values attachment to the gas 
particles. 
Although the following description will be given primarily with reference 
to a flotation apparatus and process for concentrating values from low 
grade ores, it should be understood that the invention also applies to 
other types of flotation apparatus and processes such as that used for 
concentrating values when de-inking paper pulp or separating oil from 
slurry.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
A novel method of gas particle formation in a liquid media, as may be 
employed in the preferred embodiments of the present invention, will now 
be described with reference to FIG. 1. The method employs the principle of 
gas prefilming as illustrated in FIG. 1 on surface 10 which may be planar, 
circular, or conical as required. The structure illustrated in FIG. 1 in 
section view is partially or completely submerged in liquid media. A 
supply of gas through conduit 12 feeds onto the surface 10 via gas port 
14, and due to the flow of liquid 16 over the surface 10 tends to form a 
thin film 18 on the latter. Surface 10 is provided with an edge 20 in the 
form of a lip towards which the flow of liquid 16, adjacent the gas film 
18, flows over the surface 10. As the film of gas 18 escapes from the edge 
20 of the surface 10 it is broken into gas particles by shear forces 
generated by the transfer of momentum between the liquid 16 and gas film 
18. 
Preferably a second flow of liquid 22 is generated which converges with the 
first flow 16 at the lip 20 of surface 10. The convergence of the 
cocurrent liquid flows 16, 22 enhances the shear forces generated between 
the gas film 18 and the liquid media as the gas film escapes from the lip 
20 and subsequently mixes with the two streams of liquid. Typically the 
two streams of liquid 16, 22 have more dissimilar velocities and are 
accelerated towards the lip 20 together with the gas film 18. For this 
purpose baffles 24 are provided in the illustrated arrangement for 
regulating the passage of liquid 16 and 22 towards the lip 20. If the 
accelerating flow is also subjected to a continuous change in direction 
away from the gas prefilming surface 10 the liquid flow may break up the 
gas film into particles before lip 20 is reached. 
It is by no means essential to have two liquid flows, and a single liquid 
flow 16 would also operate successfully. In this alternative arrangement 
the mass of liquid below the surface 10 would initially be substantially 
stationary, however as the gas film 18 and liquid 16 escape from the 
surface 10 at lip 20 liquid 22 below the surface 10 would be entrained 
with the stream of liquid and gas particles escaping from the lip 20. 
Typically the gas film 18 has a higher velocity than the liquid flows 16 
and 22. 
The size of the gas particles or bubbles formed before or at the lip 20 is 
largely determined by the relative velocities and qualities of the liquid 
flows 16 and 22 and the gas film 18. A typical mean bubble size of 0.5 mm 
can be achieved with liquid flow velocities of approximately 6 meters per 
second at a pressure drop in the range of 20-60 kPa, for a given device 
configuration. Gas particle sizes of between 50 micrometers to 2-3 mm can 
be achieved by varying the relative velocities of the liquid and gas. 
However, for constant liquid and gas velocity profiles the volume and 
distribution of gas particles produced by the illustrated method and 
structure remain substantially uniform. 
Four different embodiments of a gas particle formation apparatus or 
aeration device will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 
5. 
One preferred form of gas dispersion unit or aeration device, illustrated 
in FIG. 2, comprises a cylindrical body 26 having a circumferential edge 
flared outwardly defining an annular lip 28. The outer surface 30 of the 
body 26 is adapted to form a thin film of gas thereon. The gas prefilming 
body 26 is housed within a chamber 32 having a gas inlet 34 and a liquid 
inlet 36 provided in the walls 37 thereof. The walls 37 of chamber 32 are 
also provided with an outlet in the form of a circular aperture with an 
outer escape diameter slightly larger than an outer diameter of the 
annular lip 28. The gas prefilming body 26 is mounted in the chamber 32 
with the outwardly flared edge received in the circular aperture so that 
an annular gap 38 is formed between the lip 28 and the inner circumference 
of the circular aperture. In this embodiment the body 26 is adjustable by 
means of nut 40 so that the width of the gap 38 can be varied as required. 
Liquid enters the chamber 32 via inlet 36 in a tangential manner creating a 
swirling effect around the stem of the body 26. Gas entering inlet 34, 
being lighter, is forced to concentrate around the outer surface 30 of the 
body 26 due to centrifugal forces such that the liquid flow ensuing 
through the gap 38 forces the gas stream to form a thin film on the outer 
surface 30. Both liquid and gas are forced through the gap 38 and as the 
gas film escapes from the lip 28 of the body 26 it is broken into gas 
particles which subsequently mix with both the prefilming liquid flow 42 
and the ejected or shearing flow 44. 
Gas may also be injected into the chamber 32 onto the outer surface 30 of 
the body 26 in an annular or plan fashion through scroll 46, 46a. With 
this alternative method of gas injection it is not necessary for the 
liquid to enter the chamber in a tangential manner to create the swirling 
effect, since the gas can be injected directly onto the outer surface 30 
of the body 26. In the latter method employed to feed the gas onto the 
outer surface 30 of the body 26, the gas entry port 47 is covered with 
resilient or elastic material 48 serving the double function of providing 
a non-return seal and also enhancing the prefilming effect. In the former 
method the elastic material 48 provides a non-return seal over gas inlet 
34. The position of gas prefilming body 26 can be adjusted manually or 
automatically for the purpose of obtaining constant or variable gas 
particle sizes at various liquid/gas ratios and pressures, thereby 
maintaining a liquid pressure drop between inlet and device discharge 
within such limits as to obtain the desired gas particle size and 
subsequent mixing/turbulence parameters. 
In the second embodiment of a gas dispersion unit illustrated in FIG. 3, 
liquid enters a chamber 50 also in a tangential manner from liquid inlet 
52. Housed within the chamber 50 are a pair of concentrically mounted, 
hollow frusto-conical bodies 54. Gas inlets 56, 56a inject gas into the 
chamber 50 directly onto the outer surfaces 58 of the gas prefilming 
bodies 54 in a region of decreasing static pressure gradient. As in the 
previous embodiment, the gas is forced to concentrate around the outer 
surfaces 58 of the bodies 54 due to centrifugal forces such that the 
liquid flow through spaces 62 and further ensuing through the gaps 60 
forces the gas stream to form thin films on the outer surfaces 58 of the 
bodies 54. The hollow bodies 54 are mounted concentrically within the 
chamber 50 such that the outer circumferential escape edges or lips 57 of 
bodies 54, together with a peripheral escape edge of the cylindrical wall 
59 of chamber 50, form annular gaps 60 through which the liquid and gas 
can escape from the gas dispersion unit in a specified manner and with the 
required velocity profile. The gas films formed on the outer surfaces 58 
of the bodies 54 are broken into gas particles as they escape from the 
lips 57, subsequently mixing with both the prefilming liquid flow 62 and 
the shearing flow 64. Obviously, gas may be fed to either one or both 
surfaces 58 of the hollow bodies 54. 
In the case where liquid enters through inlet 52 in a tangential manner, 
gas can also be injected directly into the liquid stream in chamber 50 
through alternate gas inlet 66. As with the previous embodiment, the gas 
entry ports 68 may be covered with elastic material 70 which serves the 
double function of providing a non-return seal and enhancing the 
prefilming effect. The size of the gaps 60 may be varied by adjusting the 
position of the bodies 54 within chamber 50 using nut 72. Hence, as with 
the previous embodiment the desired gas particle size and subsequent 
mixing/turbulence parameters can be controlled at various liquids/gas 
ratios by adjusting the relative positions of the frusto-conical bodies 54 
and the walls 59 of chamber 50 either manually or automatically. 
Although, as described above, the gas dispersion unit illustrated in 
section view in FIG. 3 is of circular or cylindrical configuration, FIG. 3 
with minor modifications can also represent a section view through a gas 
dispersion unit of linear or planar configuration. In this alternative 
arrangement the walls 59 of chamber 50 would be substantially planar 
extending perpendicularly out of the page, and the bodies 54 would be in 
the form of planar blades or vanes also extending perpendicularly out of 
the page. Prefilming of the surfaces 58 of the bodies 54 would not be due 
to the swirl effect created by tangential liquid flow, but rather due to 
gas injection directly onto the surfaces 58 through gas inlets 56 and gas 
ports 68, with the elastic material 70 providing enhanced prefilming. 
Obviously one or more bodies 54 may be employed to form gaps 60 with the 
walls 59 of chamber 50 or with adjacent bodies. A plurality of prefilming 
bodies 54 has the advantage of providing increased gas prefilming surface 
area and greater control flexibility. 
A prefilming body of circular or cylindrical configuration having a 
circumferential edge flared outwardly in the general direction of the flow 
is particularly advantageous because the prefilming surface thus formed is 
of increasing circumferential surface area. Thus the gas film becomes 
thinner as it flows towards the outwardly flared edge, further enhancing 
the prefilming effect. FIG. 4 illustrates a third embodiment of a gas 
dispersion unit or gas particle formation apparatus. This embodiment 
comprises a gas prefilming body 61 of coniform configuration in which an 
outer circumferential surface 63 tapers in a curved manner to a point 65. 
The outer surface 63 is provided with at least one circumferential ridge 
67 forming an edge or lip of the surface whereby, in use, a film of gas 
formed on the surface 63 can be broken into gas particles as it escapes 
from the lip 67, by shear forces generated between the gas film and an 
adjacent flow of liquid directed toward said edge. Preferably the outer 
surface 63 is provided with a plurality of circumferential ridges 67, as 
can be seen more clearly in the enlargement in FIG. 7, the ridges being 
formed by a plurality of outer surface portions 63 arranged in a cascade 
as shown. Gas is directed onto the surface portions 63 via inlets 69 which 
are covered with resilient or elastic material 70, as in the previous 
embodiments, which serves to enhance the prefilming effect and provide a 
nonreturn seal. 
The whole prefilming body 61 is typically submerged in a liquid medium, for 
example a liquid/slurry, and pointed towards the mouth of liquid feed pipe 
71, through which liquid is pumped. The liquid escaping from pipe 71 is 
fed onto the outer surface 63 of the body 61, and flows over the surface 
portions 63 in a cascade fashion. Due to the curvature of the outer 
surface 63 centrifugal forces cause the flow of liquid to exert a pressure 
on the film of gas formed on each surface portion 63, which in turn 
produces an acceleration of the gas film towards the lip 67. As the gas 
film escapes from lip 67 shear forces produced by a transfer of momentum 
between the gas film and the flow of liquid cause the gas film to be 
broken into gas particles which, being lighter, tend to be pushed away 
from the surface 63 to be dispersed into the surrounding liquid media to 
provide aeration. 
Immediately below each ridge or lip 67 a vortex 73 is created which 
provides a second recirculating flow of liquid which converges with the 
above described flow at or near the lip 67, to enhance the shearing 
effect. The above described embodiment is particularly advantageous since 
it does not require any additional chamber or baffles surrounding the 
prefilming body 61, in order to generate a suitable flow of liquid over 
the outer surface 63. 
FIG. 5 illustrates a still further embodiment of an aeration device 
according to the present invention, in which a circular prefilming body 
74, in the form of an adjustable hollow stem 76, is housed within a liquid 
chamber 78 having a liquid inlet 80 provided in the wall of the casing 82 
thereof. The stem 76 has a head 90 provided with an outwardly flared 
frusto-conical surface 84 having a circumferential edge defining an 
annular lip 86 thereon. A portion 88 of the frusto-conical surface 84 is 
adapted to form a thin film of gas thereon. The casing 82 of the liquid 
chamber 78 is also provided with a liquid outlet in the form of a circular 
aperture with an outer escape diameter slightly larger than an outer 
diameter of the annular lip 86. The adjustable stem 76 is slidably mounted 
in the casing 82 with the frusto-conical surface 84 of the head 90 
received in the circular aperture so that an annular gap 92 is formed 
between the surface 84 and a convex annular lip 94 of the circular 
aperture forming the liquid outlet in the casing 82. 
In use, gas enters inlet 96 of gas chamber 98, passes through apertures 100 
into the hollow stem 76. The gas rises through the hollow stem 76 and 
passes through apertures 102 into a chamber 104 within the head 90 of the 
prefilming body 74. The gas is then delivered through distribution outlets 
106 onto the prefilming surface portion 88 of the frusto-conical surface 
84. The distribution outlets 106 are covered by a self-sealing resilient 
or elastic spreader 108, typically in the form of an annular rubber 
washer, which serves the double function of providing a non-return seal 
and also enhancing the prefilming effect. In use, both liquid/slurry and 
gas are forced through the gap 92 and as the gas film escapes from the lip 
86 it is broken into gas particles which subsequently mix with both the 
prefilming liquid flow 110 and the recirculating or shearing flow from 
volume 114 above the head 90. The difference in flow velocity between the 
slurry and the gas film creates wavelets at the liquid/gas interface in 
gap 92, and the curvature of convex lip 94 continuously changes the 
direction of the flow generating centrifugal forces that produce migration 
of solid particles present in the slurry away from the lip 94. The 
migrating solid particles then penetrate the gas film and strike the 
prefilming surface portion 88 on head 90 as well as passing through the 
broken-up gas film after it escapes into the volume 114 of gas/slurry 
mixture above the head 90. Hence, each solid particle that passes through 
the gas film and rejoins the slurry flow in volume 114 will entrain a gas 
particle thereby producing the required gas dispersion and bubble size 
enhancing the shearing effect. Both the convex lip 94 and the prefilming 
surface portion of the head 90 are coated with an abrasion resistant 
coating, for example, a ceramic coating. 
The slurry pressure differential between chamber 78 and volume 114 can be 
adjusted between 10 kPa and 100 kPa by varying the height of stem 76 
guided by a sliding assembly formed by a guide 116, which may be provided 
with a removable sleeve 118 to form an air tight seal between the stem 76 
and guide 116. This arrangement is protected from slurry ingress by a 
flexible bellows 120 held at one end by a compression washer 122 and nut 
124 on stem 76, and at the other end by a flange, provided on guide 116, 
and a bottom plate 126 of the casing 82. The actuating mechanism for 
positioning the stem 76 (not illustrated) can be manual or automatic, and 
is protected from slurry ingress into gas chamber 98 through the hollow 
stem 76 by the self-sealing spreader 108 made of resilient material. The 
self centring rod 128 protrudes from chamber 98 through gland 130. The air 
feed pressure in chamber 98 is typically equal or slightly above the 
slurry pressure in chamber 78. 
In this embodiment of the aeration device, the bubble size can be 
controlled by varying the gap 92 as a function of the proportion of solids 
in the slurry between operational values of, for example, 0 and 75%. The 
pressure differential between chamber 78 and volume 114 can be varied such 
that bubble sizes in the dimensional range of between 0.2 to 3.0 mm can be 
obtained for slurry velocities in the gap 92 of between 1.5 and 12 meters 
per second and gas velocities in the gas film formed on surface 88 of up 
to 340 meters per second. The resulting swarm of gas particles or bubbles 
mixes uniformly with the ensuing slurry flow from gap 92 and the 
recirculating flow 112 from the volume 114 of slurry/gas mixture such that 
the ratio between the dispersed gas volume and the slurry passing through 
the device can be as high as 6:1. 
The embodiment of the gas dispersion device illustrated in FIG. 5 is 
provided with only one prefilming body 74. However, in order to increase 
the prefilming surface area an additional prefilming body (or bodies) may 
be provided in the form of an annulus concentric with the prefilming body 
74. 
The above described gas dispersion units can be used in conjunction with 
flotation apparatus for mineral or coal enrichment processes to achieve 
enhanced performance with minimum energy consumption. Indeed, it has been 
found that a flotation process can be driven entirely by the gas energy 
generated by an aeration unit of sufficient capacity. Any commercially 
available aeration unit may be employed suitably modified and sized in the 
flotation column, although it has been found that an aeration unit of the 
kind described above is particularly suitable in view of the high gas lift 
generated. Examples of other known aeration units which may be used are 
those manufactured by Ekof or Zultzer. 
A flotation apparatus which employs a gas dispersion unit similar to that 
described above will now be described. 
The flotation apparatus illustrated in FIG. 6 employs a gas dispersion unit 
or aerator 140, similar to that illustrated in FIG. 5, at the lower end of 
an elongate riser 142. Gas is injected into the aeration unit 140 through 
gas inlet 141 and slurry is fed to the unit 140 through slurry feed pipe 
143. Riser 142 may be constructed from a variety of materials including 
high density polypropylene (HDP) pipe sections joined end to end up to a 
length of 30 meters. Between the riser 142 and gas dispersion unit 140 
there is provided a reactor vessel 144 of larger diameter than the bulk of 
the riser 142. The reactor vessel 144 is typically manufactured of heavy 
gauge mild steel sheet with a ceramic coating on the inside. The aeration 
unit 140 discharges into the reactor producing high shear velocities of up 
to 10.0 meters per second. The gas bubbles with entrained particles escape 
from the aeration unit 140 typically in a radial direction and are 
dispersed uniformly throughout the slurry/gas mixture in reactor 144. 
Reactor 144 is of enlarged diameter to facilitate uniform dispersion but 
to prevent recombination of the gas particles to form larger bubbles, such 
that most of the flow kinetic energy is dissipated within its volume. The 
reactor 144 is thus normally the only part of the flotation apparatus 
where intense turbulence is present, the rest of the flows within the unit 
being predominantly quiescent. The gas/slurry mixture rises up through the 
riser 142 and through a flared end section 146 at the top of the riser, in 
such a way that when the gas/slurry mixture escapes into the volume 148 of 
the separation unit 150 it slows down sufficiently for the gas bubbles to 
separate from the slurry liquid at the discharge mouth of the riser 142. 
The unattached slurry liquid separates from the froth and drains into the 
outer vessel 152 from which it can be either recirculated back into the 
aeration unit 140 as non-aerated pulp through recirculation line 154 or 
removed as tailings through line 156. 
The flow of gas/slurry mixture in the riser 142 is typically 
turbulence-free or laminar flow and provides the necessary conditions for 
efficient mineral collection. Bubbly flow conditions are maintained at all 
times with an air lift figure of up to 85%, more typically between 50 to 
70%. The velocity of the gas/slurry mixture in the riser 142 is maintained 
within the range 0.1-2.0 meters per second, more typically between 0.3-1.0 
meters per second. Due to the low discharge pressure "seen" by the 
aeration unit 140, as a direct result of such high air lift values, 
coupled with the full slurry column pressure at the liquid inlet of the 
aeration unit, sufficient pressure drop is produced to generate the gas 
bubble dispersion and recirculation of the slurry through the flotation 
apparatus, thereby using the gas energy to drive the whole process. The 
mouth of the outer vessel 152 is sufficiently large relative to the mouth 
of the riser 142 so that the non-aerated slurry velocity is kept low 
enough to prevent re-entrainment of gas into the recirculation circuit or 
tailings discharge. 
Thus, the flotation apparatus of FIG. 6 includes means for generating 
substantially turbulence free flow in which a high gas lift occurs in the 
riser 142 such that a pressure drop between the liquid inlet 143 and the 
discharge outlet of the aeration unit 140 is sufficient to produce gas 
particle dispersion and recirculation of the slurry liquid through the 
flotation apparatus. 
The pulp level within the outer vessel 152 is maintained below the 
discharge mouth of the riser 142 by a weir arrangement formed by the 
tailings outlet line 156. The atmospheric discharge of the tailings line 
156 is so positioned that the recombined pulp level in the outer vessel 
152 is never above the mouth of the flared end section 146 of the riser 
142, and typically 0.05 to 0.25 meters below, such that the riser bottom 
pressure is not increased by pulp reingestion which could generate 
turbulence, and recirculation is avoided in the riser. 
The froth discharged from the riser forms a deep froth layer 160 rising 
through a parallel duct 162 connected to a top flange of the outer vessel 
152. The froth duct 162 may be partitioned vertically to prevent froth 
macro recirculation which could result in substantial loss of values. 
Froth height can be varied by removing one or more sections which form the 
froth duct 162 or by having froth duct of variable height. 
Above the froth duct 162 is a froth wash system 164 in which the froth is 
washed by a dispersed flow of water mixed with additives from a manifold 
fed through port 165. The froth wash system 164 may be combined with a 
froth removal system 166 which collects the final concentrate to drain 
from outlet 168 for storage and/or further processing. 
The slurry pressure drop can be varied by increasing/decreasing the 
prefilming gap in the aeration unit 140, thereby controlling the bubble 
size at the same time as the recirculation rate. The flotation unit is 
typically sized such that the volume of slurry recirculated is 4 to 20 
times the likely slurry feed flow, which is a significant advantage over 
the current practise of "single pass", thereby improving the values 
attachment probability and therefore improved recovery of slow floting 
values. Furthermore, as the slurry flow rate through the aerator is 
dictated solely by the operating pressure drop its value is not affected 
by variations in feed flow since the recirculated flow of slurry varies to 
compensate, thereby maintaining unchanged gas dispersion characteristics. 
An added advantage resulting from the abovementioned features is that the 
flotation apparatus exhibits typically short residence times, for example 
between 30-120 seconds. 
An alternative feed method for the pulp is to use feed inlets 170 at the 
top of the recirculation line 154, and/or to use feed pipe 172 feeding 
directly into the vessel 152. Feed pipe 172 can be used provided the feed 
discharge into the top of the recirculation line 154 is totally decoupled 
from the entry to the tailings outlet line 156. The recirculation line 154 
can he provided with a control valve 174 to control the flow of slurry fed 
to the aeration unit 140. 
The flotation apparatus of FIG. 6 employs only one aeration unit 140, 
however two or more aeration units each with its own riser could be 
employed if desired. Each unit would typically be provided with its own 
reactor vessel for gas dispersion. One or more risers can be incorporated 
in a flotation apparatus if desired. Furthermore, the basic principle of 
having an aeration unit with reactor and riser could be employed with a 
conventional flotation column by having the riser located adjacent the 
column with concentrated slurry from the column's quiescent zone just 
under the pulp/froth interface being recirculated therethrough. The riser 
could also be located within the column of a conventional flotation 
apparatus suitably modified. 
A significant advantage of driving the flotation apparatus/process using 
the gas energy only is that no slurry pumps are required. Slurry pumps are 
expensive and require regular maintenance due to high wear of components. 
Now that preferred embodiments of the flotation process and apparatus have 
been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the 
relevant arts that numerous variations and modifications may be made to 
the described embodiments, other than those already described, without 
departing from the basic principles of the inventions. For example, in 
some applications the use of a slurry pump may still be advantageous in 
conjunction with the gas energy to effect recirculation of the slurry 
liquid. 
All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope 
of the present invention, the nature of which is to be determined from the 
foregoing description and appended claims.