Characterizing Frothers through Critical Coalescence Concentration (CCC)95-Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance (HLB) Relationship

Minerals

Wei Zhang¹  Jan E. Nesset²  Ramachandra Rao¹ 

[1] Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University, 3610 Univeristy Street, Wong Building, Montreal, QC H3A 2B2, Canada;NesseTech Consulting Services Inc., 17-35 Sculler’s Way, St., Catharines, ON L2N 7S9, Canada;

关键词: flotation;    frothers;    bubbles;    coalescence;    CCC;    HLB;   

DOI  :  10.3390/min2030208

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Frothers are surfactants commonly used to reduce bubble size in mineral flotation. This paper describes a methodology to characterize frothers by relating impact on bubble size reduction represented by CCC (critical coalescence concentration) to frother structure represented by HLB (hydrophile-lipophile balance). Thirty-six surfactants were tested from three frother families: Aliphatic Alcohols, Polypropylene Glycol Alkyl Ethers and Polypropylene Glycols, covering a range in alkyl groups (represented by n, the number of carbon atoms) and number of Propylene Oxide groups (represented by m). The Sauter mean size (D₃₂) was derived from bubble size distribution measured in a 0.8 m³ mechanical flotation cell. The D₃₂ vs. concentration data were fitted to a 3-parameter model to determine CCC95, the concentration giving 95% reduction in bubble size compared to water only. It was shown that each family exhibits a unique CCC95-HLB relationship dependent on n and m. Empirical models were developed to predict CCC95 either from HLB or directly from n and m. Commercial frothers of known family were shown to fit the relationships. Use of the model to predict D₃₂ is illustrated.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.