Gamma processes of shear flocculation, oil agglomeration and liquid–liquid extraction

Abstract

Gamma flotation process is characterized by emphasis on the control of solution surface tension and the separation of minerals in suspension with this technique is based on the differences in wettability of minerals. The wettability properties of mineral surfaces can be defined in terms of their values of critical surface tension of wetting (γc) as a quantifying parameter, which is an essential property to achieve selectivity in surface chemistry-based separation processes. That is, the gamma flotation technique utilizes the differences in the critical surface tension of wetting (γc) of minerals. Similar to the flotation method, shear flocculation, oil agglomeration and liquid–liquid extraction processes also utilize differences in wettability of minerals. Therefore, the separations of minerals by the control of surface tension in the shear flocculation, oil agglomeration and liquid–liquid extraction methods can be provided. In this study, the separations of some minerals with these processes have been investigated by using the control of the solution surface tension and the successful results could be reached. Consequently, these new separation processes have been defined as ‘gamma shear flocculation’, ‘gamma oil agglomeration’ and ‘gamma liquid–liquid extraction’.