Frother characterisation using dynamic surface tension measurements

There is as yet no accepted method of predicting flotation frother performance in plant processes based on laboratory scale characterisation techniques. This paper investigates the use of dynamic surface tension, using the maximum bubble pressure method, as a means of evaluating frother performance, The method has been refined to facilitate measurement at high bubble rates, an important criterion with respect to the analysis of small, fast adsorbing molecules at low concentration such as flotation frothers. An adsorption model is presented, which has been used to elucidate the role of frothers with respect to bubble size in a flotation cell, based on the correlation of model parameters to physical frother characteristics. The potential for the application of dynamic surface tension to the performance of the froth phase in a flotation system is also discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.