Microbial attachment on mineral surface
Flotation processes are based on the interactions of mineral particles, flotation chemicals in the aqueous media, and air bubbles. This study expands that framework by incorporating microbial particles into the system, as they are present in high numbers in flotation cells and likely  affect the mineral recovery as recently observed. Attachment of microorganisms, originating from a sulfidic multi-mineral processing plant, was greatly affected by all the studied variables: mineral type, contact time and the presence of flotation chemicals. Microbial communities were dominated by Gammaproteobacteria, with lesser extent with Alphaproteobacteria, unidentified Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria.
Flotation processes are based on the interactions of mineral particles, flotation chemicals in the aqueous media, and air bubbles. This study expands that framework by incorporating microbial particles into the system, as they are present in high numbers in flotation cells and likely  affect the mineral recovery as recently observed. Attachment of microorganisms, originating from a sulfidic multi-mineral processing plant, was greatly affected by all the studied variables: mineral type, contact time and the presence of flotation chemicals. Microbial communities were dominated by Gammaproteobacteria, with lesser extent with Alphaproteobacteria, unidentified Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria.
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland