Effect of frother addition mode on gas dispersion and coal flotation in a downflow flotation column Article uri icon

abstract

  • The traditional addition mode of frother as liquid and a novel mode as vapor were comparatively studied in presences of methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC) and sec-Octyl alcohol (2-octanol). Aeration rate and coal flotation were investigated in a downflow flotation column while bubble rising velocity was measured in a glass tank, wherein the aeration rate and bubble rising velocity were studied in a gas–liquid system. The comparison between these two frother addition modes shows that the vapor mode presented a faster bubble rising velocity, a larger aeration rate, a higher concentrate yield and a higher combustible matter recovery independently of frother sort. In addition, under the liquid mode MIBC presented a smaller aeration rate, a faster bubble rising velocity, a lower concentrate yield and a lower combustible matter recovery as compared with 2-octanol, while MIBC gave a smaller aeration rate, a roughly equal bubble rising velocity, a lower concentrate yield and a lower combustible matter recovery under the vapor mode. The aeration rate sharply decreased as the bubble rising velocity increased up to a critical point above which the aeration rate became almost constant, independent of frother addition mode. Furthermore, the concentrate yield sharply increased as the aeration rate increased up to a critical point above which the concentrate yield became gradual, independent of frother sort and addition mode. The MIBC and 2-octanol consumption was significantly reduced when the frother was added as vapor rather than liquid, and 2-octanol vapor presented the lowest concentration for achieving the concentrate yield of 60%25. © 2020

publication date

  • 2020-01-01

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