Evaluation of collector performance at the bubble-particle scale
File(s)Wang et al _Technical note_accepted.pdf (696.22 KB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Wang, Peipei
Reyes, Francisco
Cilliers, Jan
Brito Parada, Pablo Rafael
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Particle attachment and detachment in froth flotation are complex processes and their measurement presents many challenges. Of particular interest is the effect of collectors at the bubble-particle scale, in order to assess the strength or collecting ability of these reagents. However, studies of the effect of collectors on particle attachment at the bubble-particle scale are scarce. In this work, we propose a methodology to characterise collector strength by measuring the attachment rate of particles to a capillary-pinned bubble. An image processing technique was developed to quantify bubble surface coverage over time, which was then used to determine particle attachment kinetics. The image analysis strategy is based on the sessile drop method and uses curve fitting to determine accurately the particle coverage. The methodology was used to assess the collecting ability of three chalcopyrite collectors. Interestingly, although very similar contact angle measurements were found for two of the collectors, they showed distinctly different particle attachment kinetics. It is proposed that this particle-bubble attachment method can be used to gain additional information not currently available from either contact angle measurements or bulk collector performance tests.
Date Issued
2020-03-01
Date Acceptance
2019-11-25
Citation
Minerals Engineering, 2020, 147, pp.1-3
ISSN
0892-6875
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
1
End Page
3
Journal / Book Title
Minerals Engineering
Volume
147
Copyright Statement
© 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Identifier
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0892687519305515?via%3Dihub
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Physical Sciences
Engineering, Chemical
Mineralogy
Mining & Mineral Processing
Engineering
Flotation
Collector performance
Image analysis
Sessile drop method
Particle attachment
Bubble loading
Surface coverage
Contact angle
SURFACE
SHAPE
Mining & Metallurgy
0306 Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)
0904 Chemical Engineering
0914 Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2019-12-03