Kinetics of froth flotation of naturally hydrophobic solids with different shapes

Abstract

In this paper, kinetics of flotation of naturally hydrophobic polystyrene platelets with the same roundness, solidity, surface roughness and hydrophobicity but different basic shapes i.e. circular, square and triangular, were studied in pure water and aqueous solutions of non-ionic frother. It was found that the flotation kinetics, and thus bubble attachment, were influenced by the particle shape. The flotation kinetics was the slowest for circular platelets, and then increased with decrease in the surface ratio, defined as the ratio of surface area of circular particle-to-surface area of investigated platelet. The results also showed that at above a certain frother dose, the bubble attachment time and inversed flotation rate constant for all investigated particles increased. The mechanism of this prolongation of time of flotation and bubble attachment to the solid surfaces due to the frother overdosage was presented and discussed. The influence of particle roughness on kinetics of bubble attachment and flotation was analysed and discussed as well.