A Study on Picobubble Enhanced Coarse Phosphate Froth Flotation

Abstract

Abstract Effects of picobubbles on froth flotation of coarse phosphate particles (−1180 µm+425 µm) have been investigated with a specially designed flotation column. Cavitation generated picobubbles are characterized by inherently high probability of collision, high probability of attachment, and low probability of detachment during froth flotation due to their tiny size and high surface activity. Test results obtained with a 5 cm in diameter laboratory scale flotation column indicate that picobubbles are effective in enhancing the flotation of coarse phosphate particles, and increasing the flotation recovery by 10 to 23 absolute percentage points under various conditions. The required collector dosage and frother dosage for a given flotation performance were reduced by one‐half to two‐thirds. Keywords: Coarse phosphate particlepicobubbleflotation recoveryparticle bubble interaction Acknowledgements The authors wish to acknowledge the Florida Institute of Phosphate Research (FIPR) for the financial support. The project manager, Dr. Patrick Zhang provided valuable advice and support, which is greatly appreciated. Special thanks are given to the CF Industry and Mosaic Company for supplying phosphate specimens and to ArrMaz Custom Chemicals Inc. for providing chemicals employed in this study.