Automatic control of flotation columns

Abstract

Since their first commercial application for mineral separation in the early 1980s, flotation columns have become a standard piece of equipment in mineral concentrators particularly for cleaning operations. This chapter presents and discusses the most recent advances in instrumentation and automatic control of flotation columns. It also examines how current industrial practice could benefit from recent academic developments in these areas. A particular emphasis is placed on the development of specific sensors for the continuous monitoring of process operations and their regulation.