The latest trend in research works on froth flotation for recovery of minerals are described and some of them are discussed, with the opinions of various investigators as well as those of the author.
Some of the important research problems related to mineral flotation are summarized as follows:-
(1) The application of flotation methods must be studied not only on the recovery of minerals from their ores but on the recovery of values from slag, removal of solid non-metallic inclusions from molten metals, recovery of some special salts from melts, and recovery of precipitates formed in wet chemical process, etc.
(2) Except in particular instances little trouble is now encountered in the selective flotation of any sulfide ores. Many problems on the selective flotation of oxidized ores and the flotation of non-metallic minerals are to be investigated, in future.
(3) The study of the preferential adsorption of various substances on mineral surfaces, both on metallic sulfides and metallic oxides, as well as on other non-metallic minerals, and that of the methods of removal of these adsorbed substances from such surfaces will give much instructive information relative to flotation.
(4) Theoretical investigations on various phenomena met in the process of flotation has been well made, both physically and chemically. But these theories must be investigated further so that more systematical connection between each other should be established.
(5) To calculate or measure accurately the absolute values of the interfacial tension of liquid-solid and gas-solid remains the most important unsolved fundamental problem concerned to the flotation theory.
(6) The investigation on high degree dispersion of slimes Or special flotation reagents, and improvements of some properties of froth litained, will be necessary, which is reached by the improvements on control of the pulp for flotation, both electrically and mechanically. Studies on supersonic wave may help to give more effective decision for these purposes.
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