Physico-Chemical Elementary Processes in Flotation: Analysis from the Point of View of Colloid Science Including Process Engineering Considerations (Developments in Mineral Processing)

The characteristic feature of the flotation process is the interaction of gas bubbles with solid particles in a dispersion medium. This monograph reviews the state of the art from the point of view of colloid science, i.e. the heteroparticle interaction. A number of process engineering aspects and physically-based approaches to modelling the flotation process are also taken into account. Special emphasis is on: hydrodynamic interaction of bubble-particle flow; properties, stability and significance of thin liquid films formed as bubbles and particles collide; kinetics of three-phase contact mobility; balance of forces between adhering particles and gas bubbles under static and nonstatic conditions (stability of bubble-particle aggregates).Trends for new applications are discussed and concise descriptions given of new laboratory methods of use to workers in colloids and interfaces. All essential topics are described and derived mathematically in order to enable the reader to calculate the numerical values of interest to him.