Exploring the Relationships between Gas Dispersion Parameters and Differential Pressure Fluctuations in a Column Flotation.

Xiangning Bu,Saeed Chehreh Chelgani,Guangyuan Xie,Muidh Alheshibri,Meng Sun,Md Shakhaoath Khan,Shaoqi Zhou

doi:10.1021/acsomega.1c01955

Abstract

Flotation separation, which is the most important mineral beneficiation technique, is dependent on gas dispersion (hydrodynamic conditions). Thus, many investigations have focused on the precise determination of hydrodynamic conditions such as Reynolds number of the bubbles, bubble velocity, and bubble diameter. However, few studies have examined their relationships with pressure fluctuations in a column flotation. This study introduced the differential pressure fluctuations as an actual variable that could be considered to determine the collection zone’s hydrodynamic conditions in a cyclonic microbubble flotation column. In general, the outcomes indicated that superficial gas velocity had the most substantial relationship with the differential pressure fluctuations among other flotation factors (such as pump speed, superficial gas velocity, superficial water velocity, and frother dosage). Furthermore, a high coefficient of determination (R2 > 0.77) for the equation generated to assess the relationships demonstrated that differential pressure fluctuations could be used as a promising tool to determine the hydrodynamic parameters’ characteristics in the flotation columns.

Highlights

Froth flotation is the most important separation technique among the mineral beneficiation methods
Mechanical flotation machines have dominated in the mineral-processing industries worldwide since the early days of froth flotation, while flotation columns with a thick froth layer afford superior performance in terms of nonselective entrainment inhibition.[4−8] It was documented that the bubble surface area flux has a direct relationship with the recovery of hydrophobic particles, which is affected by the superficial gas velocity and bubble size distribution in column flotation.[3,9,10]
In flotation columns, measuring the standard deviation of differential pressure fluctuations of the collection zone is a straightforward assessment that can be accurately performed during the process

Summary

Introduction

Froth flotation is the most important separation technique among the mineral beneficiation methods. Mechanical flotation machines have dominated in the mineral-processing industries worldwide since the early days of froth flotation, while flotation columns with a thick froth layer afford superior performance in terms of nonselective entrainment inhibition.[4−8] It was documented that the bubble surface area flux has a direct relationship with the recovery of hydrophobic particles (true flotation), which is affected by the superficial gas velocity and bubble size distribution in column flotation.[3,9,10] It is reported that gas holdup is correlated with bubble surface flux.[10,11] Unlike the bubble surface flux, the easy-to-measure gas holdup can be used in the control and optimization of industrial flotation machines.[12,13]

Methods

Results

Conclusion