On the Treating of Lead Polluted Water: Flotation of Lead Colloidal Carbonate

The colloid flotation of lead carbonate in aqueous media is studied at pH 7. The flotation system consisted of five spargered flotation cells in a serial array. The flotation cells were operated under controlled conditions of superficial gas and liquid velocity, frother, and collector concentration. The measured variables were gas holdup, bubble size, superficial bubble surface flux, and lead recovery in the concentrate. The experimental data show that it is possible to separate up to 93% (w/w) of lead from the aqueous media when the superficial gas velocity is 0.8 cm/s and the superficial liquid velocity is 0.19 cm/s.