AU8963098A - Flotation recovery improvement through increased residence time via feed box, connection box and discharge box flotation - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

STANDARD PATENT a 4 0 a Ag 0-44 a Sit.

S. -A Applicant: BAKER HUGHES

INCORPORATED

InVention Title: FLOTATION RECOVERY IMPROVEMENT THROUGH INCREASED RESIDENCE

TIME

VIA FEED BOX, CONNECTION BOX AND DISCHARGE BOX

FLOTATION

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method Of Performing it known to me/us:

I

FLOTATION RECOVERY IMPROVEMENT THROUGH SINCREASED RESIDENCE TIME VIA FEED BOX, CONNECTION BOX AND DISCHARGE BOX FLOTATION TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to flotation cells used in industry for the separation of value and gangue components in a solid-liquid slurry, and relates specifically to a means of increasing effective flotation residence time with- 't additional flotation cells or reducing slurry throughput.

BACKGROUND ART Flotation cells are commonly used in many industries to selectively separate mixed phasjs. For example, in the mineral industry, flotation cells are used to separate mineral values from gangue or waste minerals. Flotation cells vary widely in size and design but generally function by mechanically mixing a slurry of ground solids and water with finely divided air bubbles. Hydrophobic solid particles attach to the bubbles and are carried up through the slurry by bubble buoyancy to the surface where a population of value-laden bubbles form a froth phase. As the thickness of the froth phase grows, the froth overflows a weir and is collected in a concentrate launder for additional processing. The flotation process takes an incoming slurry of mixed solids values and gangue) and produces a concentrate that typically contains the values and a tailing stream that typically contains the gangue or waste material.

S. In most cases the values are floated away from the gangue materials; however, in some cases the gangue is floated away from the values.

In almost all industrial applications of flotation, several flotation cells are connected in series to form what is referred to as a "flotation row." This is done to reduce the effects of single cell short circuiting and to provide sufficient residence time to achieve the desired recovery. Upstream cells are J elevated higher than downstream cells allowing slurry to flow by gravity through the flotation row. In addition to multiple flotation cells, a flotation row also utilizes a feed box, connection boxes, and a discharge box.

-3 The function of the feed box is to provide an air break-expansion zone for i 214-9848 if H i f n. 1.

:a.

2 the incoming slurry and to reduce incoming slurry momentum prior to entering the first flotation cell in the row. The function of the connection box is to connect adjacent cells and to regulate slurry level in the upstream flotation cell.

The discharge box is located at the end of the flotation row and functions to control slurry level in the last cell of a flotation row. Flotation rows with more than ten cells are very common.

Flotation cells and flotation rows have an effective flotation volume the volume of a flotation cell or the combined volume of a plurality of flotation cells). The flotation volume, divided by the volumetric flow rate, gives the flotation residence time as indicated by the following mathematical expression: FIQ, Rt where: F, Effective Flotation Volume (ft 3

M

3 Q' Volumetric Flow Rate (ft 3 /min.,

M

3 /min.) R, Residence Time (min.) it is clear from this mathematical expression that thEre are two ways to increase residence time and, hence, increase flotation efficiency or productivity.

The first is by increasing the effective flotation volume. This is typically done by adding flotation cells to a flotation row. The addition of flotation cells requires a significant capital investment in both the new cells and additional plant floor space. The other way to increase residence time is to decrease the slurry volumetric flow rate which results in decreased productivity. Both options have significant econornic drawbacks.

Thus, it would be a significant advantage in the art to provide a simple and relatively inexpensive way to increase flotation residence time, receiving the benefits of increased flotation recovery.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a flotation recovery improvement system is provided for incorporation into the existing structure of a flotation cell or flotation row to increase the defined flotation volume of the existing flotation cell or flotation row to thereby increase recovery of values found in an influent feed slurry. The present invention effects flotation recovf-ry improvement through increased residence time via feed box, 214-9848 2 u..

i.

;vTr i-i connection box and/or discharge box flotation. In some flotation configurations, this volumetric increase can be as much as fifteen percent. The present invention may be adapted for use in any kind of flotation cell system, and may be used in any type of industry, but is described herein with respect to use with mechanical flotation cells applied to the mineral industry.

The present invention comprises the modification of a feed box, connection boxes and/or a discharge box by incorporation of an air sparger system and apparatus for recovering froth from the modified feed box, discharge box or connection boxes. The modified feed boxes, connection boxes and discharge boxes described herein with respect to the present invention will each be commonly referred to as a "flotation box." In accordance with the present invention, air delivered from the sparger system contacts influent feed slurry entering into a flotation box to enhance flotation and separation. The flotation box is generally located externally to the flotation cell and has attachment apparatus for securing the flotation box to at least one adjacent flotation cell. The flotation box further includes at least one inlet for directing an influent feed slurry into the flotation box and at least one outlet for directing fluid away from the flotation box. The flotation box also includes a weir and launder member for directing froth formed in the flotation row box into S" the overflow launder of an adjacent cell or into an associated froth collector A system which is not a part of the adjacent cell.

The sparger system of a flotation box is positioned to direct air bubbles into the path of incoming influent feed slurry. Introducing air bubbles into the pathway of influent feed facilitates contact between the bubbles and the solids component of the influent feed slurry. The bubbles, to which solid values have attached, then move upward within the flotation box to form froth at the top of the reservoir. The froth moves over the weir of the flotation box and into the launder member to direct froth away from the flotation box.

The flotation box may take any of several forms. For example, the flotation box may be a feed box which is attached in an appropriate manner to an existing flotation cell. The feed box is structured with an inlet to receive an influent feed slurry and is structured with an outlet which directs fluid from the 1. 214-9848 3 C~Lj.

93 4p feed box into the flotation cel;. A sparger system is positioned in the feed box in alignment with the incoming influent feed slurry. The feed box also includes a weir and launder member for directing the forming froth away from the feed box. In one embodiment, the launder member may be a sloped tray which is positioned to direct froth into the existing overflow launder of the flotation cell to which the feed box is attached. In an alternative embodiment, the launder member may be positioned to direct the froth into a froth collector system disassociated from the flotation cell.

The flotation box may also be the connection or control box positioned between two adjacent flotation cells which are interconnected in series to form a flotation row. The connection box has an inlet, which directs fluid from the upstream flotation cell into the connection box, and an outlet, which directs fluid from the connection box into the downstream flotation cell. The connection box may conventionally include a valve system which selectively permits fluid to flow through the connection box from the upstream flotation cell to the downstream flotation cell.

The connection box is typically divided into two chambers which correspond to the inlet side of the connection box and the outlet side of the connection box. In the present invention, the connection box is structured with a sparger system associated with each of the chambers of the connection box.

The sparger system in the inlet chamber of the connection box is aligned with the inlet receiving underflow influent feed slurry from the upstream flotation cell. The sparger system in the outlet chamber of the connection box is generally aligned with the valve openings in the outlet chamber which permits flow of fluid from the inlet chamber to tha outlet chamber. The inlet chamber has a weir and a launder member which may either be positioned to direct froth from the inlet chamber of the connection box into the overflow launder of the upstream flotation cell or to direct such froth into a collector system disassociated with the upstream overflow launder. Likewise, the outlet chamber has a weir and a launder member which is positioned either to direct froth from the outlet chamber into the overflow launder of the downstream flotation cell or to direct such froth to a collector system.

s

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214-9848 The flotation box may also be in the form of a discharge box appropriately attached to a flotation cell or to the last flotation cell in a flotation row. As previously described, the discharge box may be configured with an inlet to receive underflow fluid from the upstream flotation cell and an outlet to direct fluid away from the discharge box for disposal or further processing. The discharge box is configured with a sparger system which is in alignment with fluid entering the discharge box from the upstream flotation cell and includes a weir and launder member positioned to deliver froth into the overflow weir of the flotation cell or to a collector system. A single flotation cell may be structured with a feed box or a discharge box, or both, as previously described, and a series of interconnected flotation cells may be structured with flotation boxes in the form of a feed box, connection boxes or a discharge box, or all three.

The flotation box of the present invention increases the defined flotation volume of the existing flotation cell by ten to twenty percent without i necessitating a costly restructuring or modification of an existing flotation cell *W |design. Therefore, recovery of values from waste solids can be increased, as j well as the specificity of the values recovered, with comparatively little capital S outlay. Further, the flotation box of the present invention may function to j reduce fluid momentum of influent feed slurry, thereby favoring the formation of bubblelsolids complexes and enhancing the separation process. The i flotation box may also serve as an air brake to release air from the system prior Ji to entry of fluid into the flotation cell, and may act as a surge protector in i controlling high fluid inflow of feed slurry in the flotation cell which would otherwise disturb the flotation dynamics in the flotation cell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the drawings, which currently illustrate what is considered to be the best mode for carrying out the invention: FIG. 1 is a side view in cross section of a flotation cell which is modified with a flotation box of the present invention in the form of a feed box; 0 214-9848 FIG. 2 is a plan view of the flotation cell and associated flotation box shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a side view in partial cross section of another flotation box which is in the form of a connection box interconnected between an upstream flotation cell and a downstream flotation cell joined in series; FIG. 4 is a plan view of the flotation box shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a side view in partial cross section of yet another flotation box of the present invention in the form of a discharge box attached to a flotation cell; and FIG. 6 is a side view in elevation of a series of flotation cells to which is attached a plurality of flotation boxes in the form of a feed box, a connection box and a discharge box.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The flotation recovery improvement system 10 of the present invention is shown, in a first embodiment, in FIG. 1 which illustrates a conventional Smechanical flotation cell 12 to which a flotation box 14 is attached. The flotation cell 12 may be of any type or design, but generally comprises a walled structure having a top 16 and a bottom 18, an inlet 20 through which influent

A

.~feed slurry enters into the flotation cell 12 and an outlet 22 through which slurry is discharged from the flotation cell 12. The flotation cell 12 also includes a weir 24 and overflow launder 26, located near the top 16 of the flotation cell 12, which is positioned to receive froth 28 which forms at the top of the fluid volume in the flotation cell 12. The weir 24 and overflow launder 26 may typically extend about the circumferencz! of the flotation cell 12 and include a launder outlet 30 for removing froth from the overflow launder 26.

The flotation cell 12 is schematically shown in FIG. 1 having a statorrotor apparatus 32 which acts, in this particular flotation cell design, to mix air with influent feed slurry moving into the flotation cell 1 2. Bubbles, to which solid values from the feed slurry have attached as a result of contact with the mixed air, rise to the top 16 of the flotation cell 12 and form a froth 28 on top of the fluid volume. The froth 28 thereafter moves into the overflow launder 26 where it is collected and removed through the launder outlet 30 for recovery 214-9848 -7 and further processing. Slurry from which initial values have been recovered moves to the bottom 18 of the flotation cell 12 and is directed out of the flotation cell 12 through the cell outlet 22.

A given amount of value recovery takes place within the flotation cell 12 dictated by the volume of the flotation cell 12. While recovery can be enhanced through flotation cell design increased cell height or radius, or increased residence time), such cell modifications are not easily made and require either outlay of significant capital costs and/or time to modify the existing cell system to enhance flotation/separation. With the present invention, value recovery can be enhanced and selectively controlled by extending the volume of the flotation cell 12 with a flotation box 14 structured for flotation/separation. The flotation box 14 can be easily appended to an I existing flotation cell 12, thereby avoiding costly and time consuming modifications to the existing cell, or the flotation box 14 may be an existing S' structure, such as a connection box, which is modified to cause S flotation/separation to occur therein.

The first embodiment of the flotation box 14 is shown in FIG. 1 as a feed box 38 which is interconnected to the flotation cell 12 via the cell inlet 20. The feed box 38 may also be secured to the flotation cell 12 by attachment apparatus 40, such as a bracketing device or the like. The feed box 38 is shown in FIG. 1 as being positioned to the side of the flotation cell 12, which is a particularly suitable arrangement. However, the feed box 38 may be positioned in any other suitable orientation to the flotation cell 12. The feed box 38 is generally a walled structure having an open top 42 and a closed J bottom 44. The height of the feed box 38 may vary, but may, most suitably, extend above the top 16 of the flotation cell 12 in order to accommodate froth movement as described more fully below.

The feed box 38 is structured to accommodate an influent feed slurry t pipe 48 which brings influent feed into the feed box 38. The feed box 38 is further structured with a sparger system 50 which directs air into the feed box 38 in alignment with the incoming influent feed slurry to enhance contact between air bubbles and the solids of the feed slurry. The sparger system 214-9848 7

X.

may be of any suitable design, such as one or more duck bill sparger valves in fluid communication with an air source 52. A froth resulting from the contact of bubbles and solid values forms near the open top 42 of the feed box 38.

The feed box 38 is formed with a launder member 56 which, as shown most clearly in FIG. 2, may be positioned relative to the overflow launder 26 of the flotation cell 12 to direct froth into the overflow launder 26. The collected froth can then be processed along with froth removed from the flotation/separation process which occurs in the flotation cell 12. Alternatively, as shown in phantom in FIG. 2, the launder member 56 may be structured to direct froth from the flotation box 14 to a collector system disassociated with the flotation cell 12.

It can be seen from the configuration of the feed box 38 in FIGS. 1 and 2 that the feed box 38 can be easily attached to an existing flotation cell 12 to augment the flotation/separation process of the flotation cell 12. A configuration of this type limits the amount of modification that needs to be done on the wall of the flotation cell 12 to attach the flotation box 14 thereto.

However, the configuration of the flotation box 14 may vary significantly from that shown in order to accommodate other flotation cell designs and, thus, may involve more modifications to an existing flotation cell. It should also be noted that the term "flotation box" is not meant to imply a particular size or geometry of the element. Indeed, the flotation box 14 may be square or rectangular, as in a conventional box shape, but may also be cylindrical, ovate or any other suitable geometry or configuration.

The flotation/separation process of a flotation cell 12 may also be enhanced by providing the flotation box 14 of the present invention in the form of a connection box 60, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Connection boxes 60 are conventionally used in the serial interconnection of a plurality of flotation cells 12 to form a flotation row. The connection box 60 of the present invention, J like conventional connection boxes, comprises a walled vessel having an open top 62 and a closed bottom 64. The connection box 60 includes an inlet 66 which is in fluid communication with the cell outlet 22 of un upstream flotation I cell 68, and an outlet 20 which is in fluid communication with the cell inlet 70 1 214-9848 8 r V i of a downstream flotation cell 72. The connection box 60 operates conventionally to control the fluid level in the upstream flotation cell 68 and does so by controlling the amount of liquid passing from the upstream flotation cell 68 to the downstream flotation cell 72. The connection box 60 is divided into an inlet chamber 76 associated with the upstream flotation cell 68 and an outlet chamber 78 associated with the downstream flotation cell 72 by the positioning of a partition 80 in the connection box 60, as best seen in FIG. 4.

Slurry flowing from the upstream flotation cell 68 enters through the inlet 66 of the connection box 60 and into the inlet chamber 76. Notably, the fluid level 82 in the inlet chamber 76 maintains the approximate fluid level 84 of the upstream flotation cell 68. A valve 86 remains seated on a valve seat 88 until the appropriate time for allowing slurry to pass through the connection box At that time, the valve 86 is moved by a valve actuator rod 90, in the direction of arrow 91, and is released from registration against the valve seat 88. Slurry is then able to flow, in the direction of arrow 92, through the opening formed by the valve seat 88 and into the outlet chamber 78. Some slurry will flow through the outlet 20 of the connection box 60 into the downstream flotation "M cell 72. Notably, the fluid level 94 in the outlet chamber 78 of the connection box 60 is maintained at approximately the same level as the fluid level 96 in the !I flotation cell 72. The connection box 60 may be structured with one or more movable valves 86, as shown in FIG. 4.

The flotation box 14 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is further configured with a sparger system 50 associated with the inlet chamber S 76 of the connection box 60 and is configured with a sparger system Sassociated with the outlet chamber 78 of the connection box 60. The sparger systems 50, 50' may be any suitable device or construction which introduces air bubbles into the pathway of moving influent feed slurry. Thus, as shown, some of the slurry entering into the inlet chamber 76 of the connection box moves upwardly within the inlet chamber 76 where it encounters air introduced by the sparger system 50 and froth is produced near the top 62 of the connection box 60. A first launder member 98 is associated with the inlet chamber 76 of the connection box 60 and is positioned to remove froth from %1' 214-9848 the inlet chamber 76 of the connection box 60. The first launder member 98 may be positioned to direct froth into the overflow launder 26 of the upstream flotation cell 68 as illustrated, or, in the alternative, to direct the froth to a collector (not shown) disassociated from the upstream flotation cell 68.

Another portion of the slurry moving into the connection box 60 on the inlet chamber 76 side is directed toward the outlet chamber 78 when the valve 86 is open. Again, some of the slurry flows into the downstream flotation cell 72 while another portion of the slurry moves into the outlet chamber 78 of the connection box 60. As the slurry flows upward within the outlet chamber 78, it encounters air bubbles introduced by the sparger system 50' and froth forms above the fluid level 94 in the outlet chamber 78. A second launder member 100 is positioned relative to the outlet chamber 78 to direct froth away from the connection box 60 and may, as shown, be positioned to direct such froth into the overflow launder 26' of the downstream flotation cell 72.

Alternatively, the second launder member 100 may be positioned to direct froth to a collector disassociated from the downstream flotation cell 72. It can be seen by the flotation box 14 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 that the flotation/separation process carried out by an existing flotation cell of fixed flotation volume can be significantly enhanced by the present invention.

Still another embodiment of the flotation box 14 of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 5 where the flotation box 14 is in the form of a discharge box 110 connected to the cell outlet 22 of a flotation cell 12. The discharge box 110 generally comprises a walled vessel having an open top 112 and a closed bottom 114. The inlet 116 of the discharge box 110 is in fluid communication with the cell outlet 22 of the flotation cell 12 to receive slurry from the flotation cell 12. The design of the discharge box 110 may vary, but as shown, the discharge box 110 may be comprised of a volume divided by a barrier 120 to form an inlet chamber 122 and an outlet chamber 124. A valve 126 is positioned between the inlet chamber 122 and the outlet chamber 124 to control the flow of slurry from the flotation cell 12 into a discharge pipe 130, i: as indicated by arrow 132. The outlet 128 of the flotation box 14 or discharge 'M box 110 is connected to the discharge pipe 130 to direct fluid away from the 214-9848 1t It discharge box 110 for disposal.

A sparger system 50" is connected to the discharge box 110 to deliver air bubbles into the inlet chamber 122 side of the discharge box 110. Thus, as slurry moves from the flotation cell 12 into the inlet 116 of the discharge box 110 and moves upward in the inlet chamber 122, the slurry encounters air bubbles provided by the sparger system 50". Froth results and forms above the fluid level 136 in the inlet chamber 122. Notably, the fluid level 136 in the inlet chamber 122 is approximately equal to the fluid level 138 in the flotation cell 12. The froth is moved into a launder member 140 associated with the discharge box 110 and may be directed into the overflow launder 26 of the adjacent flotation cell 12. Alternatively, the launder member 140 may be positioned to direct the froth to a collector disassociated from the flotation cell S 12. i S* The structure of the discharge box 110 is designed to capture whatever values may remain in the processed slurry which exits the flotation cell 12 after conventional flotation/separation therein. The discharge box 110, therefore, may be comprised of a walled vessel having a single volume into which effluent from the flotation cell 12 is directed to contact air bubbles introduced by the A sparger system 50". The discharge box 110 may be attached to a single flotation cell 12 or, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the discharge box 110 may be located at the end of a series of connected flotation cells 12 of a flotation row.

FIG. 6 further illustrates that the flotation box 14 of the present invention may be employed in more than one embodiment in a flotation row. Thus, as shown, a feed box 38 may be attached to a first flotation cell 12 to provide initial value recovery from incoming influent feed slurry prior to the feed slurry entering into the flotation cell 12. By providing an initial flotation/separation process in the feed box 38, recoverable values have more time to attach to bubbles provided from the sparger system 50 and may be removed first, thereby selectively controlling and improving value recovery. In copper mining, for example, -copper minerals are the value that are recovered in an initial flotation/separation "i 'process conducted in the feed box 38. A flotation box 14 of the present invention may also be employed in a flotation row in the form of a connection 214-9848 11 ik7 box 60 which is structured with sparger systems 50, 50' to facilitate flotation/separation in the inlet chamber 76 and outlet chamber 78 of the connection box 60 to further enhance recover, of values. Still further, a flotation box 14 may be employed in a flotation row in the form of a discharge box 110 to facilitate flotation/separation in the processed slurry discharged from the last flotation cell of the flotation row.

The flotation recovery improvement system of the present invention is directed to expanding the fixed flotation volume of an existing cell by employing one or more flotation boxes which are structured to provide flotation/separation therein, thereby expanding the flotation volume and residence time available in a conventional flotation cell or flotation row. The present invention provides a means for expanding the fixed volume of a flotation cell or flotation row without necessitating significant, timely and costly modification of the existing flotation cell structure. The present invention also enhances the value recovery capability of an existing flotation cell or flotation row and enables selective S" control of the recovery of values from a feed slurry. The flotation box may be adapted for incorporation into any type or design of flotation cell or flotation row. Thus, reference herein to specific details of the illustrated embodiments is by way of example and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications of the basic illustrated embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as recited by the claims.

i In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprising" is used in the sense of "including", i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.

4" 214-9848 12. 1.

Claims (5)

1. A flotation recovery improvement system for use with a flotation cell or flotation row comprising: a flotation box for positioning proximate at least one flotation cell, the volume of said flotation box being less than the volume of the flotation cell; apparatus for connecting said flotation box to the flotation cell; an inlet positioned to direct an influent feed slurry into said flotation box; an outlet positioned to direct feed slurry from said flotation box; at least one launder member positioned proximate said flotation box to direct froth from said flotation box into a froth collector; and an air sparger system positioned in said flotation box to facilitate the formation of solid/bubble complexes in said flotation box.

2. The flotation recovery improvement system of claim 1 wherein said froth collector is the overflow launder of an adjacent flotation cell to which said flotation box is attached. ar LIC a. S S. C..

3. The flotation recovery improvement system of claim 1 wherein said flotation box is a feed box structured to receive an influent feed slurry thereinto for delivery to an adjacent flotation cell.

4. The flotation recovery improvement system of claim 1 wherein said flotation box is a connection box having attachment apparatus for securing said connection box to and between an upstream flotation cell and a downstream flotation cell. The flotation recovery improvement system of claim 4 wherein said connection box further comprises an inlet chamber in fluid communication with the upstream flotation cell and an outlet chamber in fluid communication with the downstream flotation cell, said inlet chamber being in fluid communication with said outlet chamber. .1 U44

214-9848 I 6. The flotation recovery improvement system of claim 5 wherein each said inlet chamber and said outlet chamber is structured with a sparger system positioned to deliver air bubbles into the pathway of influent feed slurry moving through said inlet chamber and through said outlet chamber. 7. The flotation recovery improvement system of claim 6 further comprising at least one launder member connected to said connection box to remove froth formed in said connection box. 8. The flotation recovery improvement system of claim 7 wherein said inlet chamber is configured with a launder member to remove froth formed in t said inlet chamber. 9. The flotation recovery improvement system of claim 8 wherein said launder member of said inlet chamber is positioned to deliver froth to the overflow launder of said upstream flotation cell. 10. The flotation recovery improvement system of claim 8 further comprising a launder member connected to said outlet chamber to remove froth formed in the outlet chamber. *4ti S 1 1. The flotation recovery improvement system of claim 10 wherein said launder member of said outlet chamber is positioned to deliver froth into S the overflow launder of said downstream flotation cell. 12. The flotation recovery improvement system of claim 1 wherein said flotation box is a discharge box attached to a flotation cell. 13. The flotation recovery improvement system of claim 12 wherein P said discharge box further comprises an inlet chamber in fluid communication with a flotation cell and an outlet chamber in fluid communication with a Sdischarge pipe, said sparger systemi being positioned in said inlet chamber to 214-9848 14. 14 i contact influent feed entering into said discharge box from said flotation cell to enable flotation/separation in said discharge box. 14. The flotation recovery improvement system of claim 13 wherein said at least one launder member is positioned to direct froth formed in said inlet chamber into the overflow launder of a flotation cell. A flotation cell modified to include the flotation recovery improvement system of claim 1, comprising: said a least one flotation cell having a wall, a top and a bottom defining a volume, and having a" inlet, an outlet and an overflow launder; at least one said flotation box positioned proximate said flotation cell and in fluid communication therewith, said at least one flotation box having a volume within which flotation/separation occurs, said volume being less 'than that of said flotation cell; S- the sparger system in said at least one flotation box positioned to deliver air to an influent feed slurry entering into said at least one flotation box to enable flotation/separation; said at least one launder member positioned proximate said at least one flotation box to remove froth formed in said at least one flotation box therefrom; and the outlet formed in said at least one flotation box positioned for removing fluid from said at least one flotation box. S C 16. The flotation cell of claim 15 wherein said at least one launder member is positioned to deliver froth from said at least one flotation box into said overflow launder of said flotation cell. 17. The flotation cell of claim 16 wherein said at least one flotation :I box is a feed box configured to receive an influent feed slurry therein for recovery of values from said influent feed slurry, said feed box being configured S to deliver said influent feed slurry to said attached flotation cell. 214-988 (LA 18. The flotation cell of claim 16 wherein said at least one flotation box is a connection box configured for attachment to a second flotation cell and positioned to pass slurry from said flotation cell to said second flotation cell. 19. The flotation cell of claim 18 wherein said connection box is configured with an inlet chamber in fluid communication with said flotation cell and an outlet chamber in fluid communication with said second flotation cell, each said inlet chamber and said outlet chamber being configured with a sparger system to deliver air to influent feed slurry entering into said inlet chamber and said outlet chamber to enable flotation/separation in said inlet chamber and said outlet chamber. 20. The flotation cell of claim 16 wherein said flotation box is a discharge box connected to said outlet of said flotation cell. .4 4 21. A method of increasing feed slurry residence in a flotation cell S system to enhance flotation/separation, comprising: providing at least one flotation cell; attaching to said at least one flotation cell at least one flotation box having a Svolume less than the volume of said at least one flotation cell; providing a sparger system in said at least one flotation box in alignment with incoming feed slurry to facilitate flotation/separation; introducing a feed slurry into said at least one flotation box; contacting said feed slurry entering into said at least one flotation box with air provided by said sparger system to form a value-laden froth in said at least one flotation box; recovering said value-laden froth from said at least one flotation box by directing said value-laden froth from said flotation box via a launder; and directing said feed slurry out of said at least one flotation box. CI 1 ii i-i:i .3 ~ix O i 214-9848 22. The method according to claim 21 wherein said at least one flotation box is a feed box attached to a flotation cell, the method further comprising directing said feed slurry out of said feed box and into said flotation cell. 23. The method according to claim 21 wherein said at least one flotation cell further comprises an upstream flotation cell and a downstream flotation cell and wherein said at least one flotation box is a connection box interconnected between said upstream flotation cell and said downstream flotation cell, the method further comprising directing feed slurry out of said connection box into said downstream flotation cell. 24. The method according to claim 23 wherein said connection box has an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, the method further comprising: providing a sparger system in said inlet chamber of said connection box to form i value-laden froth in said inlet chamber; recovering said value-laden froth formed in said inlet chamber of said connection box; directing feed slurry from said inlet chamber to said outlet chamber; providing a sparger system in said outlet chamber of said connection box to i form value-laden froth in said outlet chamber; and recovering said value-laden froth formed in said outlet chamber of said N connection box. 25. The method according to claim 21 wherein said at least one flotation box is a discharge box connected to a flotation cell. DATED THIS 30TH DAY OF OCTOBER 1998 BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED By its Patent Attorneys: GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia L 214-9848 17 C