A mineral's journey: Unravelling flotation phenomena through particle tracking

Froth flotation is one of the most important separation techniques in mineral processing, yet studying the complexities of particle dynamics within flotation cells is very challenging. Positron Emission Particle Tracking (PEPT) offers a unique approach to investigate the complex behaviour of mineral particles within flotation cells, by tracing the trajectories and velocities of individual particles, thus providing unprecedented insights into their behavior within the pulp and froth phases. The insight into particle behaviour, both for valuable minerals and gangue, is particularly relevant when assessing the effect of changes in flotation cell design. This paper showcases the capability of PEPT to provide a deeper understanding of the fundamental mechanisms at play in froth flotation, and highlights some of the challenges and opportunities for future research.