Question

Why is froath flotation method only used for sulphide ore? Give reason.

Answer 1

Dear student,

In froth floatation process, advantage is taken of prefferential wetting of ore particles by oil and gangue particles by water.

Only suplhide ores are concentrated by froth floatation process because pine oil selectively wets the sulphide and hence brings it to the froth.

Pine oil or eucalyptus oil has tendency to wet metal sulphides. Thus sulphide ore is present in oily froth whereas gangue particles settle at the bottom,and hence fuller concentration is achieved. There are also several other process like waste processing in paper industries which make use of froth floatation.
Thank you.