- Title
- The role of bubble interfacial properties in the detachment of particles during bubble coalescence
- Creator
- Bournival, Ghislain; Hamilton Tavares, José; Ata, Seher; Wanless, Erica J.
- Relation
- XXVIII International Mineral Processing Congress (IMPC 2016). Proceedings of the XXVIII International Mineral Processing Congress (IMPC 2016) (Quebec City, Canada 11-15 September, 2016)
- Relation
- ARC.DP120102305 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP120102305
- Publisher
- Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum
- Resource Type
- conference paper
- Date
- 2016
- Description
- In froth flotation valuable particles are captured by bubbles and transferred to a froth layer where bubbles are in close proximity. Bubble coalescence frequently occurs in flotation, especially in the froth layer. The coalescence of two bubbles causes a release of energy, which may expel particles from the bubble surface. A series of experiments were carried out to determine the effect of bubble interfacial properties on the detachment of particles upon the coalescence of capillary-held bubbles of 2 mm in size. The interfacial properties of the bubbles were changed by the addition of low molecular weight alcohols, namely 1-pentanol or methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC). Using esterified glass particles (θ = 43 °) with a 10 % and 90 % cumulative passing diameter of 47.2 and 92.5 μm, respectively, as model particles, it was found a certain concentration of frother, different for each additive, is needed in order to observe a reduction in the detachment of particles. In the presence of frother, the detachment was evaluated at approximately 65 % which was a considerable reduction in the detachment compared with the value of approximately 85 % found in the absence of frother. Frother molecules changed the properties of the air-water interface. Upon the coalescence of two bubbles, the release of energy caused the merged bubble to oscillate; effectively resulting in the detachment of particles. The addition of frothing agents augmented the elasticity of the bubbles, which appeared to be related to the detachment of particles. Whereas frothing agents are generally used to prevent bubble coalescence and stabilise the froth phase, only transient stability is imparted. The results suggested that an additional role of frothers in flotation is to decrease the detachment of particles from bubble surfaces. The type and concentration of frother can be strategically selected to improve metallurgical recovery as an economic incentive.
- Subject
- bubble coalescence; bubble oscillation; frother; particle detachment
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1344041
- Identifier
- uon:29302
- Identifier
- ISBN:9781926872292
- Language
- eng
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