Vibroacoustic Improvements of Froth Flotation

The vibroacoustic technique is used in various industrial processes in the chemical industry, building, robotics, agriculture etc. Some important economic advantages of this method were proved, e.g. the high relative productivity, the high quality of products, lower energy and water consumption, convenience for automation, etc. In mineral processing, the vibroacoustic technique is mainly used in discharging hoppers, feeding, transportation, sieving, grinding, ore- washing and table concentration. Vibroacoustic crushers, flat surface concentrators, cementators, extractors, dryers etc. have already been adopted and introduced in practice.In separation processes, however, vibroacoustic techniques have been insufficiently applied. A number of investigations have shown the positive effect of vibroacoustics on flotation. The aim of this paper is to acquaint the mineral processing specialists with results (obtained by the authors) in studying various vibroacoustic effects on the separate stages of the flotation process, i.e. preparation of the pulp and reagents, formation and behaviour of the bubbles, secondary concentration in the froth layer, desorption of the reagents, joint accomplishment of grinding and flotation. A description is also given of two designs of vibroacoustic flotation machines. The technological and economic results obtained justify the increasing interest on the part of researchers and technologists in the vibroacoustic method as a means of improving the froth flotation technology.