Effects of Brine Flotation
Flotation requires generation of a large quantity of very small bubbles. In a brine environment, localized gas expansion and evaporative cooling results in formation of potash crystals that interfere with the bubble generation equipment. The EMFG SlamJet® overcomes this problem by using a very high air jet velocity that inhibits local crystallization. The high salt concentrations in brine flotation cause accelerated corrosion of metal parts. Wetted parts of the EMFG SlamJet® are fabricated of 2205 Stainless Steel which is highly resistant to corrosion.
Recovery of Coarse Particles
The requirement to recover very coarse (+500 μm) particles imposes special constraints on flotation. First, there must be a good mix of bubbles sizes, from very small (to recover the fines) to rather large (to recover the coarse material). The EMFG SlamJet® can be easily adjusted to provide the correct bubble size distribution for this application.
Second, once a coarse particle has successfully adhered to a bubble, it is necessary to avoid high turbulence that can cause the particle to disengage from the bubble. Lost particles must then be recovered all over again. Mechanical flotation requires high intensity agitation to generate air bubbles and is therefore highly turbulent. Recovery in a single machine is typically low, and many mechanical flotation machines in sequence are often required in order to achieve acceptable recovery.
The EMFG Potash Recovery System, on the other hand, provides a very low energy, non-turbulent environment that efficiently promotes particle/bubble contact and adhesion, and also allows the particle/bubble aggregates to safely make the journey to the froth zone for recovery. When a loaded bubble reaches the top of the flotation machine, there is another problem – the bubble must travel laterally to find a launder in order to be recovered. The EMFG Potash Recovery System utilizes multiple circular internal launders to significantly reduce the travel distance for a loaded bubble, thus enhancing coarse particle recovery even further.