Nano-reactive oily bubbles for enhancing fine particle flotation by agglomeration

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Canada is one of the leading mining nations in the world, producing more than 60 vital minerals and metals**that are used globally. Mining is a pillar of the Canadian economy, generating almost 3% of the national GDP.**However, Canadian mining companies face a number of challenges in meeting the global demand for**commodities. Innovation is critical in the face of declining ore grades and more stringent environmental**regulations (Tracking the Trends 2013, Deloitte). The rapid depletion of high-grade mineral ore resources has**driven the mining and mineral processing industry to explore new technologies to process lower grade ores.**The effective recovery of valuable minerals from low grade ores requires energy-intensive fine grinding for**mineral liberation and a new technology for fine particle flotation. The flotation of fine particles of sizes less**than 5 micron is extremely challenging due to inefficient bubble - particle collision and attachment,**compounded by slime coatings, leading to a low recovery and a poor selectivity. The slime coatings on target**mineral particles are more problematic for fine particle flotation due to non-selective precipitation or**deposition of metal hydroxide species and fine gangue mineral particles on the surface of target minerals. This**in turn results in a loss of valuable minerals in tailings. The proposed research in this strategic project is to**develop an innovative nano-reactive oily bubble technology for enhancing fine particle flotation by**selectively increasing the particle size of traget mineral particles . The success of this research program will enhance the resources conversion and processing (strategic research topic) for the sustainable development and use of Canada's mineral resources (minerals sector) while minimizing the use of energy and the generation of mineral wastes. It is anticipated that the concept-proven nano-reactive oily bubble technology for enhancing fine particle flotation by selectively increasing the particle size of target minerals be applied in mineral processing industry timely within 10 years.****