Improving coarse particle flotation using the HydroFloat™ (raising the trunk of the elephant curve)

The underlying mechanisms responsible for the decline in flotation recovery of very fine and very coarse particles have been extensively discussed in the technical literature. For coarser particles, low recovery is typically attributed to both turbulence and buoyancy constraints. To overcome these inherent limitations found in conventional flotation cells, Eriez has developed and successfully implemented a technology, the HydroFloat™, that combines the aspects of fluidized-bed separation and flotation. More recently, this same technology has been demonstrated in sulfides for recovering coarse value from concentrator tails. Other efforts have shown the positive benefit that can be derived from implementation within the concentrator itself. This paper will discuss the theory of operation of fluidized-bed flotation and data from various applications are presented.