The Significance of Flotation Frothers Chemical Structure and Fundamental Properties: A Review  

作　　者：Yao Xue Tengfei Li Yao Xue;Tengfei Li(China Nonferrous Metals Industry Technical Development and Exchange Center Co. Ltd., Beijing, China;Chinalco Research Institute of Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing, China)

机构地区：[1]China Nonferrous Metals Industry Technical Development and Exchange Center Co. Ltd., Beijing, China [2]Chinalco Research Institute of Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing, China

出　　处：《Open Journal of Applied Sciences》2024年第8期2124-2132,共9页应用科学（英文）

摘　　要：Froth flotation is a separation process widely used in the mineral processing industry that depends on differences in particle surface properties to separate valuable materials from undesired gangue. In froth flotation, an addition of a surfactant, acting as frother is usually needed. The basic function of the frother is to produce a swarm of air bubbles, which remain sufficiently stable for the hydrophobic mineral particles to be captured by them. This Paper presents a combination method of a foaming agent-surfactant composition with desirable selectivity and foaming properties. Wherein 1-butanol (C4H10O) is a main flotation foaming agent, which decides bubble sizes in a collecting area;and tetraethylene glycol (C8H18O5) is an auxiliary foaming agent, which affects a rising velocity of the bubbles in the collecting area and a foaming capability in a selected area. Set concentrations of the two components are respectively 60 ppm for the 1-butanol and 120 ppm for the tetraethylene glycol. An addition sequence is the 1-butanol followed by the tetraethylene glycol. The dual advantages of the selectivity and foaming properties of the foaming agent-surfactant composition in the present disclosure are verified through a series of tests, and desirable yields can be obtained in practice.Froth flotation is a separation process widely used in the mineral processing industry that depends on differences in particle surface properties to separate valuable materials from undesired gangue. In froth flotation, an addition of a surfactant, acting as frother is usually needed. The basic function of the frother is to produce a swarm of air bubbles, which remain sufficiently stable for the hydrophobic mineral particles to be captured by them. This Paper presents a combination method of a foaming agent-surfactant composition with desirable selectivity and foaming properties. Wherein 1-butanol (C4H10O) is a main flotation foaming agent, which decides bubble sizes in a collecting area;and tetraethylene glycol (C8H18O5) is an auxiliary foaming agent, which affects a rising velocity of the bubbles in the collecting area and a foaming capability in a selected area. Set concentrations of the two components are respectively 60 ppm for the 1-butanol and 120 ppm for the tetraethylene glycol. An addition sequence is the 1-butanol followed by the tetraethylene glycol. The dual advantages of the selectivity and foaming properties of the foaming agent-surfactant composition in the present disclosure are verified through a series of tests, and desirable yields can be obtained in practice.

关 键 词：Flotation Surfactants Critical Coalescence Concentration POLYGLYCOL Bubble Size 

分 类 号：TB3[一般工业技术—材料科学与工程]