Nanobubble generation and its application in froth flotation (part I): nanobubble generation and its effects on properties of microbubble and millimeter scale bubble solutions

Maoming FAN, Daniel TAO, Rick HONAKER, Zhenfu LUO

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

212 Scopus citations

Abstract

A special nanobubble generation system has been developed for evaluating the effect of nanobubble on froth flotation. In this study, an eight-factor five-level Central Composite Experimental Design was conducted for investigating eight important parameters governing the median size and the volume of nanobubbles. These process parameters included surfactant concentration, dissolved oxygen (O2) content, dissolved carbon dioxide gas (CO2) content, pressure drop in cavitation tube nozzle, <50 nm hydrophobic particle concentration, <50 nm hydrophilic particle concentration, slurry temperature and the time interval after nano- bubble generation. The properties, stability and uniformity of nanobubbles were investigated. The study of the produced nanobubble's effects on the characteristics of microbubble solutions and millimeter scale bubble solutions was performed in a 50.8 mm column.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-19
Number of pages19
JournalMining Science and Technology
Volume20
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2010

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors wish to acknowledge the Florida Institute of Phosphate Research (FIPR), the Center for Advanced Separation Technologies (CAST) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.50921002 and 90510002) for the financial support. Special thanks to the Director of CAST, Dr. Roe-Hoan Yoon and the project manager of FIPR, Dr. Patrick Zhang for their valuable advice and support.

Keywords

  • Zeta potential
  • cavitation
  • froth flotation
  • microbubble
  • nanobubble

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Geochemistry and Petrology
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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