FLOTATION

Definition
Froth flotation is a solid-liquid separation
by selectively attaching solids in
suspension to fine gas bubbles and drive
them toward the free surface of the liquid
due to buoyant force.
The float is skimmed off the surface as
froth and further processed as sludge.
 Definition
buoyant

Flotation is used when settling velocity of solid

particle is too slow (very fine particle).

Remember: Stokes law

 Flotation Agent
Air is commonly used as the rising bubble.
Chemical additives (collectors/promoters) can enhance
the attachment or entrapment of air bubbles to solid
particles or flocs.
Modifying agent is used to activate or depress the
adsorption of collectors/promotors on solid surface
CuSO4 is activator for ZnS
NaCN is depressant for FeS2
Flotation depends on the relative adsorption or wetting of
solid by the liquid.
The wetting activity of the collector is determined by
measuring contact angle.
 Contact Angle

Young equation: : interfacial tension

: contact angle
 Contact Angle
Young-Dupre equation:

WSL : adhesion energy per solid-liquid interface area

LG : liquid-gas interfacial tension

Higher c means less contact between solid and liquid

liquid gas

solid
 Flotation Additives
The collectors are chosen based upon
their selective wetting of the types of
particles to be separated.
Collectors can increase the hydrophobicity
of the surface, increasing the separability
of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic
particles.
A good collector will selectively adsorb,
physically or chemically, the particles.
 Flotation Additives
Flotation additives include:
aluminum and ferric salts
activated silica
organic polymers, etc.
 Advantages of Flotation
high rise velocity permits short resident
time and small equipment
ability to handle variable solids loading
(can adjust air flow)
can provide high float concentration (good
thickening)
can remove low density particles (require
long settling periods in sedimentation).
 Disadvantages
Capital costs

Energy

Operating costs
 Flotation Generation
Flotation requires generation of small
bubbles which can be produced by:
dispersing air/gas into the suspension
applying a vacuum to the suspension
dissolving air/gas into pressurized suspension
followed by pressure release
 Dispersed (induced) air flotation

Air bubbles are formed by mechanically

dispersing air injected under rotating
impellers or sparged by diffusers.
Bubble size is relatively large 100 1000
mm which is typically too coarse for fine
solid removal.
This method is not common in application.
 Vacuum Flotation
The suspension is saturated with air at 1
atm then a vacuum is applied to create
relative super-saturation which results in
bubble formation.
Since the maximum pressure difference is
only 1 atm, the amount of air available for
flotation is very limited. This limits the
applicability of this process.
 Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF)
The suspension is saturated with air at relatively
high pressure (40-95 psig) by adding air. The
suspension is then flushed into a flotation
chamber at 1 atm (14.7 psi) which lead to
bubbles release and attach to the suspended
solids.
The bubbles are smaller than in dispersed air
flotation ( 30 -120 mm). Smaller bubbles adhere
to solids better.
 DAF
Skimmer Sludge

Adhering zone

Separation zone

Pressurized
suspension Effluent
 Design of Flotation Systems

Single pass system

System with recycle
 The concept in Flotation Design

The rise velocity of the sludge, Vt, is equivalent

to the settling velocity for gravity sedimentation.

Classification / sedimentation

Flotation
 (A/S) Ratio
However, the rise velocity is strongly
influenced by air to solids ratio (A/S)
The A/S ratio is the amount of air that
must be generated in the suspension to
produce a desired separation of the solids
(expressed as volume of air/mass of solids
or mass of air/mass of solids)
In general the relationship between A/S and rise
velocity looks like:
The relationship between A/S and float
concentration and effluent quality looks like:
 Calculating A/S

For example : flotation of suspension of solid in

water by air bubbles
A/S can be computed from mass balances on air and
suspended solids:
Define:
Cs = saturation value for dissolved air at 1 atm pressure
(mg/L)
Cs (mg/L) T (oC)
32.7 0
29.3 10
24.3 20
20.9 30
Cp = concentration of air dissolved in water
leaving the pressure chamber (mg/L)
P = operating pressure of pressure chamber (atm)
f = fraction of saturation achieved in pressure chamber
S = solid mass flowrate (mg/min)
A = air mass flowrate (mg/min)
Q = debit of incoming suspension (L clean water/min)
X0 = solid concentration in feed (mg solid / clean
water)
 Air, A
Solid, S

Feed Effluent

Q Q
Cp Cs
X0 X0
P >> P 1 atm
Mass balance of air:

Solubility of air in water is a function of pressure.

At the same temperature:

Since at pressure P the saturation is partly achieved,

Mass balance of solid:

Therefore, (A/S) can be determined,

f has values from 0.5 to 0.8 and depends on

the mixing level and detention time in the
pressure chamber
 For recycle systems:

Air, A
Solid, S

Feed Effluent
Q0 Q0
X0 X0
CS CS
R, CP R, CS

Qo = feed flow rate (L/min) Pressurized air

R = recycle flow rate (L/min)
Mass balance of air around flotation chamber :

Mass balance of solid around flotation chamber :

Therefore,
If T, Xo and Qo are fixed then A/S = f(R,P,f) and A/S
can be varied accordingly.

Note that changing A/S will affect float

concentration, effluent, and rise velocity.
Although A/S can be manipulated by changing R,
P or f to produce the same A/S, clarification or
thickening performance could differ for each type
of manipulation.
Steps to Design

Perform batch tests (vary A/S) to get the

highest possible Vt. As the recycle (R) is added
more air is released and attach to solids. After a
float forms, measure the rate of rise to get Vt.
 Compute A/S from:
A Cs R((f P /1atm)1)

S Q0 X0
with R/Q0 = 1

Repeat with different A/S by changing R/Q0. For

example if 900 ml of sludge are mixed with 100
ml of "recycle" water, R/Q0 = 0.10 etc.
 As preliminary design , it is usually assumed
that f = 1.
In case of single pass system, (A/S) is changed
by varying the pressure of air (P) applied to the
saturation chamber.
 Select R/Q0 (A/S) for design at the optimum
(highest) Vt

Compute surface area (As) of the flotation

chamber based on:
Q0 R
Vt
As
Increase this area by a factor of 1.4 (safety factor).
Choose geometry so that depth/width is in the
range of 0.3 to 0.5 and so that the horizontal
velocity in the flotation tank is < 3ft/min
Typical design:
P = 25-70 psig
A/S = 0.01 - 0.1
= 20 - 60 min (flotation chamber)
Qtotal/As = 500 - 4000 gpd/ft2
R = 5 -120 % of Q0
f = 0.5 - 0.8
Solid concentration in sludge: 4 - 5.5%
Average solid removal: 98%
Solid loading : 30 40 lbs/ft2-day