The low gas flow rate foam separation of cerium (III) from dilute aqueous solutions

Abstract

Two low gas flow rate foam separation techniques, ion and precipitate flotation, have been investigated for the separation of trivalent cerium from solutions with initial cerium concentrations ranging from 1 × 10−8 to 1 × 10−4M in the pH range of 1.8–12 using the anionic collector sodium lauryl sulphate and the cationic surfactant cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide. In addition to the type of collector, the pH and the cerium ion concentration, and other factors which can affect flotation results, viz. the time period of bubbling, the rate of gas flow, the ageing of both the cerium and the collector ions, the ionic strength, and the concentration of the collector ions have been investigated and optimum conditions have been established. Under optimum conditions removals as high as 98.5% can be achieved.