Flotometry—Another way of characterizing flotation

Abstract

On the basis of various flotation tests with quartz and magnetite a new method of evaluating flotation processes is described. The proposed method, called flotometry, relies on carrying out a series of flotation (recovery, R, vs time, t) tests using increasing particle size until the particles become too heavy to be floated. The flotation tests are conducted with a monobubble-type Hallimond tube and analyzed with the flotometry equation in the form a R, t, s ρ′ = L R, t, s′ , where a R, t, s is the size fraction of the solid for which recovery is R after time t of flotation, s denotes surface properties of the solid in the flotation system, and ρ′ and L R, t, s represent particle density in water and a constant, respectively. Flotometry seems to be a useful method for determining the type of flotation, solid hydrophobicity in the flotation solution, upper critical particle size for flotation, strength of the solid-bubble contact, and other factors in flotation systems.