This article is in the nature of a preliminary report on some principles of flotation in a non-aqueous medium. The practical possibility of flotation in hydrocarbon liquids (kerosene, xylene, benzene) of hydrophilic minerals (quartz, table salt) and the absence of flotation of a more hydrophobic mineral - pyrite, is shown, thanks to which it turned out to be possible separate the quartz-pyrite mixture. From a large number of tested substances, those that are capable of producing the effect of collecting minerals were found - alcohols of the limiting series. True, their consumption in flotation is unusually high, and the stages of loading them into the pulp are of significant importance. The greatest collecting effect is produced by the middle members of the homologous series (ethyl, isopropyl alcohols). The phenomenon of temporary cessation of foaming was observed with large one-time loads of alcohol into the pulp. A parallel is drawn with “over-oiling” during flotation in water. The phenomenon of excess alcohol is related to the size of the radical of the alcohol molecule. A number of examples show the effect of water on the floatability of quartz. It turned out that very small amounts of moisture worsen the process, and a subsequent increase in water to a certain extent improves the flotation of quartz. It has also been shown that during flotation in hydrocarbon liquids there is an optimal liquefaction of the pulp, at which flotation proceeds most successfully.
A quick glance at scientific papers and articles, practical manuals, textbooks or teaching aids on flotation is enough to draw attention to the unanimous opinion of all authors about the invariably harmful role of organic hydrophilic protective colloids in flotation. All authors agree that organic protective colloids are identical to flotation poisons and have exclusively one function of suppression, depression of all minerals during flotation. At the same time, there are no indications in the literature of work on the study of the flotation properties of organic protective colloids, but quite often there are examples of the successful use of various protective colloids in flotation practice (starch, glue, tannin, soaps, etc.). As a result of this inconsistency, the categorical statements of the cited authors about the harmfulness of protective colloids in flotation become unconvincing and the need arises for a systematic study of the flotation properties of these substances. It is precisely these considerations that prompt the formulation of this work and the appearance of this article, which presents an incomplete summary of the experimental data obtained.
