Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
2629962 
Journal Article 
Selective separation of very fine particles at a planar air-water interface 
Tran, DNH; Whitby, CP; Fornasiero, D; Ralston, J 
2010 
Yes 
International Journal of Mineral Processing
ISSN: 0301-7516 
94 
1-2 
35-42 
WOS:000275258600005 
Selective fine particle separation is a key unit operation in the mineral and related industries. In flotation, the capture of fine particles by bubbles is inefficient due to their low mass and momentum, which result in low particle-bubble collision efficiency. We demonstrate that it is possible to selectively separate a mixture of very fine hydrophobic graphite and hydrophilic quartz particles by direct contact with an air-water interface without a particle-bubble collision step involved, We demonstrate that it is possible to scale-up the process from a simple batch to a continuous process. Good selective separation of graphite from quartz gangue could be obtained under continuous conditions. Crown Copyright (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 
Selective separation; Fine particles; Air-water interface