Application of froth flotation for remediation of metals- and explosives- contaminated soil

Mineral separation technologies have potential application in volume reduction of contaminated soils. Froth flotation is a mineral separation technology based on surface chemistry differences which has potential for selective separation of contaminated and uncontaminated soil particles. Phase I of this study examined standard flotation reagents and practice in bench scale experiments with two metals and two explosives contaminated soils. Phase II focused on identifying the best reagents for recovery of target contaminants or contaminant bearing minerals. While contaminant recoveries were not high enough to support the use of flotation as a stand alone treatment technology at this time, recoveries were sufficient to warrant further study into the potential for flotation in an overall treatment train.