Froth Flotation Kinetics — Theory and Model Experiments

The problem of froth kinetics is treated as a transport phenomenon. Two coupled equations of balance are formulated concerning the particles attached on the bubbles and the free particles in the pulp. Special attention is paid to the mode of interaction between particles and gas bubbles under dynamic conditions in a flotation cell. In contrast to the well known empirical first- order chemical reaction rate model, the solution in the present paper predicts similar but not exactly the same behaviour of the recovery rate. The adequacy of the theoretical assumptions is checked by means of laboratory flotation experiments with glass ballotini. The floatability of the particles is compared with their three-phase contact angles.