XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 2757
reduced bubble size, which increases the probability of col-
lision and adsorption between particles and bubbles. The
bridging and agglomeration of minerals by micro-nano-
bubbles can increase the apparent particle size of miner-
als and increase buoyancy through their enrichment on the
chlorite surface (Zhang et al., 2021a). Thus, the chlorite
flotation speed and recovery can be improved.
Visual Detection and Analysis of Particle-Bubble
Interaction
The results above analysis show that introducing micro-
nano bubbles can effectively enhance the flotation efficiency
of chlorite. However, the interaction between particles and
bubbles is the fundamental unit of the flotation process.
The interaction between mineral particles and conven-
tional bubbles before and after introducing micro-nano
bubbles also significantly affects their flotation efficiency.
Therefore, particle-bubble visualization was used to observe
and analyze the adhesion behavior between mineral par-
ticles and conventional bubbles before and after introduc-
ing micro-nano bubbles. It can be seen from Figure 11 that
after the introduction of micro-nano bubbles, the adhesion
effect of hematite and chlorite is better than its adhesion
effect in deionized water. Compared with before and after
microbubble treatment, the coating angle of hematite on
conventional bubbles increased by 15.47°, the coating
angle of chlorite on the surface of conventional bubbles
is significantly increased. This approximately 30° increase
indicates that the existence of micro-nano bubbles can
improve the interaction between chlorite particles. It can
also promote the adhesion efficiency between chlorite par-
ticles and conventional bubbles.
Due to the introduction of micro-nano bubbles in the
flotation system and the regulation of mineral surface prop-
erties by reagents, micro-nano bubbles can be enriched on
the chlorite surface through long-range hydrophobic force.
The joint action of the reagent and micro-nanobubbles
causes the heterogeneous interaction between particles and
bubbles to transform into an in-phase interaction between
microbubbles and conventional bubbles. The interaction
energy barrier between chlorite particles and conventional
bubbles is reduced, and the adhesion between them and the
bubbles is promoted. Consequently, this strengthens the
flotation recovery of chlorite and the flotation separation
effect from hematite.
CONCLUSIONS
The flotation experiment results of single minerals and
artificially mixed minerals before and after introducing
micro-nano bubbles were compared in this study. Further
investigation was conducted on the flotation behavior and
separation of chlorite and hematite under the influence
of micro-nano bubbles. Through the analysis of flotation
Figure 11. Adhesion between hematite, chlorite, and bubbles in deionized water and micro-
nano bubble water
reduced bubble size, which increases the probability of col-
lision and adsorption between particles and bubbles. The
bridging and agglomeration of minerals by micro-nano-
bubbles can increase the apparent particle size of miner-
als and increase buoyancy through their enrichment on the
chlorite surface (Zhang et al., 2021a). Thus, the chlorite
flotation speed and recovery can be improved.
Visual Detection and Analysis of Particle-Bubble
Interaction
The results above analysis show that introducing micro-
nano bubbles can effectively enhance the flotation efficiency
of chlorite. However, the interaction between particles and
bubbles is the fundamental unit of the flotation process.
The interaction between mineral particles and conven-
tional bubbles before and after introducing micro-nano
bubbles also significantly affects their flotation efficiency.
Therefore, particle-bubble visualization was used to observe
and analyze the adhesion behavior between mineral par-
ticles and conventional bubbles before and after introduc-
ing micro-nano bubbles. It can be seen from Figure 11 that
after the introduction of micro-nano bubbles, the adhesion
effect of hematite and chlorite is better than its adhesion
effect in deionized water. Compared with before and after
microbubble treatment, the coating angle of hematite on
conventional bubbles increased by 15.47°, the coating
angle of chlorite on the surface of conventional bubbles
is significantly increased. This approximately 30° increase
indicates that the existence of micro-nano bubbles can
improve the interaction between chlorite particles. It can
also promote the adhesion efficiency between chlorite par-
ticles and conventional bubbles.
Due to the introduction of micro-nano bubbles in the
flotation system and the regulation of mineral surface prop-
erties by reagents, micro-nano bubbles can be enriched on
the chlorite surface through long-range hydrophobic force.
The joint action of the reagent and micro-nanobubbles
causes the heterogeneous interaction between particles and
bubbles to transform into an in-phase interaction between
microbubbles and conventional bubbles. The interaction
energy barrier between chlorite particles and conventional
bubbles is reduced, and the adhesion between them and the
bubbles is promoted. Consequently, this strengthens the
flotation recovery of chlorite and the flotation separation
effect from hematite.
CONCLUSIONS
The flotation experiment results of single minerals and
artificially mixed minerals before and after introducing
micro-nano bubbles were compared in this study. Further
investigation was conducted on the flotation behavior and
separation of chlorite and hematite under the influence
of micro-nano bubbles. Through the analysis of flotation
Figure 11. Adhesion between hematite, chlorite, and bubbles in deionized water and micro-
nano bubble water