Vaahdoitusjärjestelmät

Vaahdoitusjärjestelmät, known in English as froth flotation systems, are a crucial separation process used primarily in the mining industry to concentrate valuable minerals from finely ground ore. This technique exploits differences in the surface properties of different minerals. The finely ground ore is mixed with water to form a slurry, and then specific chemicals called collectors are added. These collectors selectively attach to the surfaces of the desired minerals, making them hydrophobic (water-repelling).

Air is then introduced into the slurry, typically by mechanical agitation or by blowing air through the bottom of the flotation cell. The hydrophobic mineral particles attach to the air bubbles and rise to the surface, forming a froth. This froth, containing the concentrated valuable minerals, is then skimmed off. Gangue minerals, which are the unwanted rock and waste material, remain in the slurry because they are hydrophilic (water-attracting) and do not attach to the air bubbles.

The effectiveness of a vaahdoitusjärjestelmä depends on several factors, including the type and size of the ore, the selection of appropriate reagents (collectors, frothers, modifiers), and the operating conditions of the flotation cells, such as air flow rate and pulp density. Multiple stages of flotation, including roughing, scavenging, and cleaning, are often employed to achieve high concentrate grades and recoveries. This technology is vital for the economic extraction of minerals like copper, lead, zinc, gold, and coal.