Abstract
Bubble size is crucial for determining flotation efficiency. Fine bubbles can be cost-effectively generated using a multi-orifice sparger with oscillatory air supply. Sparger configuration is defined by the orifice size, the plate thickness and the chamber volume. To date, the effect of sparger configuration on bubble size with oscillatory air supply is not clear yet. To facilitate the control of bubble size formed with oscillatory air supply, the present work investigated the dependence of bubble size on sparger configuration. It was found that bubble size was positively correlated with the chamber volume and the orifice size, while a nonlinear relationship was observed with the plate thickness. Besides, it was found that flotation recovery decreased over increasing bubble size when changing the sparger configuration. The results indicated that sparger configuration exhibited a significant effect on flotation performance via influencing bubble size when oscillatory air supply was applied.
Highlights
Froth flotation is a process for the separation and concentration of minerals and other particulate materials by exploiting the difference in their affinity to air bubbles in aqueous medium
4b shows shows that increasing the orifice size decreased the over flotation recovery owing to increased bubble size, which falls the same trend compared to chamber volume and plate thickness
This present work investigated the effect of sparger configuration on bubble size and consequent flotation recovery under oscillatory air supply
Summary
Froth flotation is a process for the separation and concentration of minerals and other particulate materials by exploiting the difference in their affinity to air bubbles in aqueous medium. Recent studies have shown that microbubbles can be cost-effectively generated using a multi-orifice sparger by replacing steady air supply with oscillatory air supply [3,4]. Microbubble generation with oscillatory air supply has been used in algae harvesting [5], coal flotation [6,7] and fine particle mineral flotation [8,9]. Bubble size generated with a multi-orifice sparger is determined by the sparger configuration. The role of sparger configuration in determining bubble size under oscillatory air supply is not clear yet, which hinders the optimization of bubble size in practice to some extent. For the first time, the present work studied the effects of sparger features on bubble size and corresponding flotation recovery with oscillatory air supply, the underlying mechanisms for which were discussed.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
