Flotation column is a new type of high-efficiency aerated flotation equipment without mechanical agitation by column type structure. It creates a stable countercurrent condition for mutual contact between ore particles and micro bubbles, which provides a large number of opportunities to collect ore particles. The bubble generated in the column is fine and uniform, with large specific surfice area, under the counter current condition, it has more chances to contact with the ore particles, which totally eliminates the "short-circuit" phenomenon of useful minerals which may happens in conventional flotation cells, thus to improving the flotation kinetic and recovery rate. The column of the foam layer in the column is thick and adjustable, plus the purifying effect by counterflow flushing water, concentrate produced by flotation column always have higher grade, i.e. the concentrate grade can be remarkably improved. The flotation column can be used to treat ferrous, non-ferrous and non-metallic ores, as well as residue and waste liquid in chemical industry, papermaking industry and environmental protection industry. In particular, it can achieve the effect of "Increase processing capacity, raise flotation index and reduce production cost" when applied to renovation and modification in outdated dressing plant. According to the difference of hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties of various mineral surfaces (or treated surfaces), the separation of various minerals can be achieved under the three phase of solid-water-gas flow.

Working principle
When the flotation column works, pulp is fed stably by the feed distributor, then flows slowly along the whole section of the flotation column. High-pressure air comes from air compressor is ejected through the sparger. High-speed air stream impacts pulp and produces a large number of micro bubbles, which are evenly distributed on the whole cross-section. Under the condition of counter current, it contacts and collides with the mineral particles containing reagents to realize the mineralization of bubbles. The mineralized bubbles rise to the upper part of the column to form a mineralized foam layer and overflow to the concentrate trough. While hydrophilic particles are discharged from the tailings pipe.  During the whole process, air flowrate&pressure, pulp flowrate&level,foam layer can be controlled by the PLC system equipped.

Technology development and Application
Our company's professional and technical personnel have been committed to the research and development of flotation column since the 1990s. After years of market research and technology accumulation, Jupiter has developed a domestic industrial flotation column with the largest diameter of 5000mm in 2010 year, and developed the most advanced experimental flotation column in 2011 for the roughing operation of molybdenum ore. In recent years, hundreds of flotation columns have been used. The applied minerals include molybdenum, nickel, bismuth, copper, scheelite, fluorite, lead-zinc, bauxite, fly ash, waste paper deinking, etc.

In china, in 1970s,  we also have a  strong tendency to use flottion column in ore dressing plant. Due to the limitation of technology level at that moment, the technology level of the key components of the flotation column, such as sparger and automatic control system, were relatively unmatured, so that the design of flotation column in China went into chaos. The development and application of high starting point flotation column in our company has filled the gap of this technology and equipment for China's mineral processing industry.