Froth flotation

<p>Froth flotation is a process for selectively separating <a href="/facts/Hydrophobic/Ifya0CXQ">hydrophobic</a> materials from <a href="/facts/Hydrophilic/k8p95WYu">hydrophilic</a>. This is used in mineral processing, <a href="/facts/Paper_recycling/6DHpr9Aj">paper recycling</a> and waste-water treatment industries. Historically this was first used in the <a href="/facts/Mining_industry/g6uDIFab">mining industry</a>, where it was one of the great enabling technologies of the 20th century. It has been described as "the single most important operation used for the recovery and upgrading of <a href="/facts/Sulfide_mineral/f8rxJpCW">sulfide ores</a>". The development of <a href="/facts/Froth/kGrXWWcb">froth</a> flotation has improved the recovery of valuable <a href="/facts/Minerals/LkUFbNmv">minerals</a>, such as <a href="/facts/List_of_copper_ores/BG1Tj4tq">copper</a>- and <a href="/facts/Lead/EYljasJN">lead</a>-bearing minerals. Along with mechanized mining, it has allowed the economic recovery of valuable metals from much lower-grade ore than previously possible.
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Froth flotation open-in-new

Froth flotation