MICROBUBBLE FLOTATION

The first-order flotation rate is directly proportional to the superficial gas rate and varies approximately as the inverse cube of bubble size, suggesting that decreasing bubble size is a more effective means of improving flotation rate than increasing gas rate. For this reason, many new flotation machines, mostly in the form of columns, have been developed recently, in which various forms of microbubble generators are incorporated. Despite the successful demonstration in industry, there are still problems concerning scale-up and maintenance of the bubble generators. This paper provides a theoretical basis of the microbubble flotation technology and offers a discussion on matters concerning scale-up.