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Title: Trajectory analysis and collision efficiency during microbubble flotation

Journal Article · · Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
 [1]
  1. Univ. of Cambridge (United Kingdom). Dept. of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics

The hydrodynamic interaction between a rising bubble and a sedimenting particle during microbubble flotation is considered. The effects of attractive van der Waals forces and attractive or repulsive electrostatic forces are included. A mathematical model is presented which is used to perform a trajectory analysis and to calculate collision efficiencies between the bubble and particle. It is shown that collision efficiencies and the nature of the bubble-particle interactions are strongly dependent on the relative strengths of the van der Waals and electrostatic forces and on the lengthscales over which these forces act. It is demonstrated that optimal operating conditions can be suggested to achieve efficient microbubble flotation by correctly accounting for the interaction of van der Waals, electrostatic, and hydrodynamic forces.

OSTI ID:
343711
Journal Information:
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, Vol. 212, Issue 2; Other Information: PBD: 15 Apr 1999
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English