The agglomeration of aqueous suspensions of graphite

Abstract

Abstract A description is given of a practical technique for producing compact spherical agglomerates from a liquid suspension of solids following a method outlined by Farnand, Smith, and Puddington. This method involves the addition of an immiscible liquid which preferentially wets the solids and forms liquid bonds between colliding particles. Using a rotatingdrum agglomerator, pellets ranging in size from 0.020 to 0.75 in. diameter were produced from an aqueous suspension of finely‐divided graphite. The effects of operating variables such as drum load, speed of rotation, suspension and bridging liquid concentrations are described, followed by a discussion of the mechanism of particle growth. Selective agglomeration is also described.