Flotation which exploits the difference in wettability on valuable
and ganguemineral surfaces, is an important technology to concentrate
minerals. However, flotation becomes more and more difficult as a result
of the need to treat fine and ultrafine mineral particles. One challenge
in the flotation of fine and ultrafine mineral particles is the high
gangue entrainment resulting in low concentrate quality. Fine hydrophilic
gangue particles are easily dragged by the interstitial liquid film
between air-bubbles and enter the froth layer with liquids in flotation,
resulting in mechanical entrainment. It is the primary recovery mechanism
for gangue, especially fines