Flotation Extraction of Blue Water

Abstract

Flotation of ions and molecules represents a promising method of separating components from the solution, or in our case, gelled copper salt from the blue waters. The method of flotation of ions and molecules is basicly flotation extraction process which produces different concentration gradients of more component phase system. Different concentration gradients in the flotation extraction are due to the driving forces of the participating molecules driven by molecular interactions. More component phase system i.e. flotation pulp consists of water molecules of the solute, and a suitable reagent which has the role of connection of the liquid and gaseous phases dispersed in a biphasic system. Such a system leads to the interaction of the solute with a reagent to the formation of coagulated component in water as solvent. Separation in the polyphased system is in accordance with Van't Hoff-th equation, and spontaneously occurs in two-phase systems like gaseous-fluid, such as the system of flotation pulp. By use of the osmotic pressure in the columnn flotation machine comes to the separation of the flotation pulp to the heavy and light phase. This allows the molecules of water to form their natural distances which are only valid for molecules of pure water, apropos for heavy phase. Also, the solute forms it’s light phase, copper – surfactant salt as insoluble product. For some poliphase systems such as colloidal systems like in flotation process are sufficient atmospheric pressure conditions and for others solutions should be applied overpressure while being aerated. The paper presents the results of the research of flotation extraction of blue water i.e. copper solution content of 0.2 g/l. From the results, it is concluded that there is a possibility of purifying of blue water from copper mine tailings using the flotation extraction technology.