Free interactive chemistry · SIM-IND-003

Froth flotation

Froth flotation: oil-coated sulfide ore rises with air bubbles; sand stays behind.

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How to use this simulation

Set the collector amount.
Turn the depressant (NaCN) on or off.
Change the flotation time and read where each mineral goes.

What to notice

Sulfide ores are wetted by oil; silica is wetted by water.
A depressant stops ZnS floating, so PbS and ZnS can be separated.

Try this

Get most PbS into the froth while keeping ZnS out.

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