Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol.85, No.5, 739-747, 2007
The limits of fine and coarse particle flotation
The flotation behaviour of quartz particles was studied over the particle size range from 0.5 mu m to 1000 mu m and for advancing water contact angles between 0 degrees and 83 degrees. Flotation was performed in a column and in a Rushton turbine cell. Particle contact angle threshold values, below which the particles could not be floated, were identified for the particle size range 0.5-1000 pm, under different hydrodynamic conditions. The flotation response of the particles, either in a column or in a mechanically agitated cell with a similar bubble size, was comparable. Turbulence plays a role, as does bubble-particle aggregate velocity and bubble size. The stability of the bubble-particle aggregate controls the maximum floatable particle size of coarse particles. For fine particles, the flotation limit is dictated by the energy required to rupture the intervening liquid film between the particle and bubble. Flotation of very fine and large particles is facilitated with small bubbles and high contact angles. These results greatly extend our earlier observations and theoretical predictions.
Keywords:coarse particle flotation;detachment;stability;critical contact angle;kinetic theory of flotation