SkimAir® flash flotation unit

Metso SkimAir is a flotation cell designed to be installed in a flash flotation role in the grinding circuit. The cell is typically installed on the hydrocyclone underflow stream to capture any sufficiently liberated, fast floating particles that may have reported here.

Due to the higher SG of sulphide and precious metal containing minerals there is a strong likelihood that they will report to the hydrocyclone underflow stream despite being in a suitable size range for flotation. By recovering these particles from the circulating load it prevents them reporting back to the mill and being overground. Excess grinding of these particles can result in slimes which are difficult to recover in downstream flotation circuits. Recovering these particles from the circulating load can not only boost overall plant recovery but can have an impact on mill capacity and also can lead to improved concentrate dewatering characteristics. Employing flash flotation in the circulating load has also been shown to stabilize the flotation feed grade to the main circuit.

Tough flotation duty handled by smart technology 

Since Metso first implemented SkimAir technology in the 1980s continuous technological improvement have made it the world’s leading Flash Flotation technology. Not only has the SkimAir cell improved in wear technology to meet the demands for a flotation cell operating in the grinding circuit but a number of design concepts have made it flexible to suit to differing ore types and plants. The Top-Outlet design allows SkimAir technology to be employed with minimum impact on the water balance in the grinding circuit. Configuration options such as Flash Roughing have allowed it to be utilized in circuit where recovery from the cell is paramount while not compromising on concentrate grade.