Green flotation (CAMM3)

As the essential mineral beneficiation technique, froth flotation relies on efficient and selective flotation reagents and hydrodynamic conditions adjusted to the mineral system. Since flotation reagents are mostly harmful or even toxic, flotation separation has partly occurred at the expense of environmental hazards.

As a new concept, Green flotation (GF) aims to contribute to a more sustainable approach to mineral processing. Various GF scenarios will be explored, such as adding nanobubbles to conventional flotation cells to reduce reagent consumption and process energy or using less toxic flotation reagents. Different statistical methods will be used to evaluate the results. One of the active projects currently focuses on apatite flotation as a source of phosphate and REE in collaboration with LKAB.

Publications

• Green Flotation Depressants
• Biodegradable acids for pyrite depression and green flotation separation – an overview
• Biodegradable ether amines for reverse cationic flotation separation of ultrafine quartz from magnetite
• Polysaccharides-based pyrite depressants for green flotation separation: An overview
• Biodegradable hematite depressants for green flotation separation – An overview