THE FUTURE OF FLOTATION

FLSMIDTH HAS DEVELOPED AN INSPIRED FLOTATION SOLUTION FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY, DELIVERING DRASTIC IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS ALL KEY METRICS.

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The REFLUX Flotation Cell (RFC) is reshaping flotation technology as we know it, offering substantial improvements in recovery rates, energy efficiency, and water savings.

The innovative flotation machine, developed by global mineral processing pioneer FLSmidth (FLS), operates in a frothless environment, delivering significant efficiency and sustainability benefits for mining companies.

Lance Christodoulou, FLS global product line director – REFLUX Technologies, spoke to Australian Mining about the RFC’s cutting-edge design, its advantages over traditional flotation methods and the impact it is having on mining operations across the world.

Unlike conventional flotation tanks that rely on a froth layer to separate valuable minerals from waste, the RFC eliminates the need for froth, instead using a high-volume bubbly mixture. This enables operators to separate minerals more effectively.

“The REFLUX Flotation Cell is a high-intensity flotation machine,” Christodoulou said. “It delivers staged flotation in a frothless environment, so there’s no discernible froth pulp interface.

“The machine contains inclined channels in the separator to help segregate the bubbles from the liquid – a novel approach that mitigates common issues with traditional flotation cells, such as froth breakage, drop-back losses, and stagnant zones that hinder recovery.

“All open tank flotation machines have a froth layer and a pulp layer. When the bubbles pop, valuable material can be lost, but with the RFC, there's no risk of froth breaking or bubbles being disrupted by washing effects.”

One of the standout advantages of the RFC is its impressive recovery rates and kinetics improvement.

Traditional flotation methods often require extended residence times for adequate separation, whereas the RFC delivers much faster results.