99/01803 Interpretation of the effect of froth structure on the performance of froth flotation using image analysis: Banford, A. W. et al. Powder Technol., 1998, 98, (1), 61–73

Abstract

G + 8% blends of bentonite were similarly stored for up to 11 weeks. Blue Circle Class G cement was used for these investigations. Two beneficiated bentonites and two natural Wyoming bentonites were employed. Operating free fluid (free water) tests (API Schedule 5) showed that free fluid (free water) for the G + 8% blends tended to increase with storage time. The blend with beneficiated bentonite was particularly bad in this respect, giving much higher and rising free water contents with increased storage time. Thickening time data performed up to 2 weeks storage backed up this data. The longest Schedule 5 thickening times were obtained with the G + 8% bentonite 1 blend. Increases in free water and thickening time with length of storage of the four G + 8% bentonite blends can be attributed to increased aeration (exposure) of the cement from the bentonite moisture. There was no correlation between bentonite moisture content and the development of high free water values or longer thickening times. Indeed the lowest moisture content of the four bentonites was that of the beneficiated bentonite. Thermal analysis data suggested that the particularly poor resuls of the G + 8% bentonite 1 blend was due to poor performance of this impure bentonite. In this particular instance there was most likely a breakdown of the beneficiating polymers with length of storage by alkaline hydrolysis in the cementitious medium as a result of increasing aeration (exposure to moist air) with storage time. It is necessary to recommend that when bentonite be used in G + 8% blends, quality control be carried out on the blends for appropriate operating free water and thickening time. API specification 10A tests for bentonite are mostly irrelevant for quality control in these circumstances.