Analysis of the Gas Phase in Flotation Process. Part 1: Experimental Determination of the Volume of Air Bubbles in the Pneumo-Mechanical Flotation Machine

Abstract

Problem of bubble mineralization, representing the most important flotation stage and resulting in measurable outcomes described by flotation concentrate yield, is of a key importance research problem from practical point of view. Most of publication in the literature refer to the global study on the impact of selected factors (size of the bubbles, the particle coverage ratio with flotation reagents, hydrophobic properties of particles) on the results of flotation. A decisive role in this process is played by dispersive properties of the gas phase, which is the main factor affecting the results of upgrading process, defining the operation conditions of the flotation machine or the degree of aeration of flotation pulp. The paper presents the results of the assessment of the influence of selected physical parameters on the size of air bubbles generated in the working chamber of pneumatic-mechanical type of flotation machine. The variables, directly related to the size and the way the dispersion of air bubbles, were the dispensed amount of air and the number of rotor’s rotation at fixed physicochemical conditions. These parameters were determined in order to characterize the dispersion of air in the two-phase liquid-gas. The study was carried out on the unique device, with using video recording techniques and image analysis.