Question

Which ore is concentrated by froth floatation?

Answer 1

1. It is a concentration method that uses the nature of the ore and its contaminant towards the water. The metals to be concentrated in the ore are hydrophobic in nature while the waste products or gangue are hydrophilic in nature.
2. Principle: The minerals are selectively separated based on the wetting ability of the minerals and the gangue. The hydrophobic minerals are collected in the froth while the hydrophilic gangue remains in the water.
3. in this method, the crushed ore is made into a slurry by mixing it with water. Along with it to, enhance the hydrophobicity of the mineral, the collector is added to the slurry. The slurry is then agitated with the help of a rotating paddle.
4. This causes the formation of froth, which carries with it the hydrophobic minerals from the ore while the hydrophilic gangue settles in the water.
5. The froth needs to be stabilized, for which stabilizers like aniline, cresol, etc. are added to the froth. The froth containing the mineral can be skimmed off from the surface and can be sent for further refining and extraction.
6. The metals that can be extracted using this method includes Copper $\left(\mathrm{Cu}\right)$, Lead$\left(\mathrm{Pb}\right)$ and Zinc $\left(\mathrm{Zn}\right)$. They are present in ores in their sulfide forms.
7. Multiple sulfide ores can be extracted through this method by using depressants which suppress one mineral while the other is collected in the foam.