REVIEW OF FROTH MODELING IN STEADY-STATE FLOTATION SYSTEMS

Froth models proposed in the literature are reviewed with the aim of i dentifying their significance and usefulness in the modelling and scal e-up of the froth phase in steady state flotation systems. Literature indicates that froth phase performance is better understood in terms o f froth recovery, the fraction of material presented at the pulp-froth interface that reports to the concentrate. This review suggests that froth recovery is a strong function of drainage rate of particles from the froth phase to the slurry phase. Drainage rate, in turn, is deter mined by physical factors, such as froth removal technique, geometry o f the rotation cell, flux and distribution of air at the pulp-froth in terface the water content, particle size and solids content, and chemi cal factors, such as froth stability and froth loading. These factors influence the froth residence time, which has been identified as a key froth parameter. Finally, it is proposed that future work should focu s largely on the development of a methodology to investigate froth per formance based on the froth recovery in different flotation systems. T his will enable generic relationships between the froth recovery and f roth sub-processes and key froth parameters to be established, and mak e it possible to relate froth performance in different flotation syste ms. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.