Flotation of hydrophobic minerals in Hallimond tube

This study analyses the effect of hydrophobicity on the floatability of sulphur, silicon, fluorite and galena. Flotation was performed in a Hallimond tube in distilled water and in the presence of a frother (α-terpineol). The results confirm that all the analysed minerals showed floatability in distilled water, with a varying yield, depending on the contact angle and density of each mineral. The introduction of a frother significantly improved the flotation efficiency, mainly for sulphur, silicon and fluorite.