Effect of virus in reclaimed water on flotation process

The transport of viruses (ΦΧ174 and MS2) in reclaimed water in flotation system has been investigated through Simulation of flotation experiment，adsorption experiment and desorption experiment for the safety of reclaimed water reused to flotation.The results showed that viruses in reclaimed water were rapidly adsorbed by ore particles，while tailing waste water could be reused to floatation safely，however，concentrate，middlings and tailings could pose health risks under certain exposure conditions.The transport of viruses in the floatation process was dominated by attachment onto ore particles，in which most of them are inactivated and or irreversibly adsorbed.Remove of both viruses on ore particles decreased as solution pH value increased with the increased energy barrier between virus and ore particles，more ΦΧ174 was removed in comparison to MS2.The attachment of both ΦΧ174 and MS2 on mineral particles increases significantly as the decreased ore particle size.