Flotation is a process for selectively separating hydrophobic materials from hydrophilic.
This is used in mineral processing, paper recycling and waste-water treatment industries. Historically this was first used in the mining industry, where it was one of the great enabling technologies of the 20th century.
The development of flotation has improved the recovery of valuable minerals, such as copper and lead bearing minerals.
The flotation process also is widely used in industrial waste water treatment plants, where it removes fats, oil, grease and suspended solids from waste water.
Type of flotation process for industrial water treatment: