Not complicated....

Not complicated.

https://hotcopper.com.au/posts/62756867/single


Typical Beneficiation Process of PGMs

Froth flotation is a physico-chemical process whereby mineral particles are separated based on their affinity for an air environment. Particles with a high affinity for an air environment (hydrophobic) will attach to rising bubbles and float to the froth phase, thus being separated from the particles that have an affinity for water molecules (hydrophilic).

During flotation, a slurry is fed into an agitated and aerated tank where the separation process takes place,resulting in two products, concentrate and tailings.

Froth flotation began in 1905, when Haynes used the technique to separate sulphides from gangue using oil [40]. The sulphide mineral particles have different surface properties from those of the gangue, leading to the preferential coating of gangue by oilin Haynes’ work. The immiscibility of oil and water in turn results in theselective flotation of the oil-coated sulphide minerals. It is against this foundation that several reagents, which will be discussed in the subsequent sections, have been developed to enhance the selectivity of froth flotation.

Factors that influence froth flotation will be discussed in the subsequent sections; however, at this juncture it is important to note that an optimum particle size is required for effective flotation. Therefore, froth flotation typically follows the comminution stage, and an example of a flow sheet encompassing both comminution and flotation is shown in Figure 1.

Prior to flotation, the runoff mine (ROM) feed undergoes closed-circuit milling using a hydrocyclone as a classifier. The hydrocyclone product (undersize) undergoes various flotation stages to maximize both grade and recovery. Recovery is maximized in the rougher stages,whereas grade is maximized in the cleaner stages.

Towards the Biobeneficiation of PGMs: Reviewing the Opportunities. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357654722_Towards_the_Biobeneficiation_of_PGMs_Reviewing_the_Opportunities