Contact
    Start Publications Foaming and aggregation behaviours of polyethylene oxide and ...
    ←  Publication Finder
    Attension

    Foaming and aggregation behaviours of polyethylene oxide and polyacrylamide in inhibiting mechanical entrainment of kaolinite in flotation using saline water

    Year: 2022

    Journal: J. Mol. Liq., Volume 359, AUG 1

    Authors: Liu, Di; Peng, Yongjun

    Organizations: ACARP (Australian Coal Asso-ciation Research Program) [C20042]; BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance

    Keywords: Kaolinite; Network structures; Polymeric flocculants; Mechanic entrainment; Flotation; Saline water

    The recovery of fine gangue particles by mechanical entrainment through the liquid between air bubbles in flotation is a major challenge in resource processing. This study explored high molecular weight poly-acrylamide copolymer Magnafloc 1011 (MF1011) and polyethylene oxide (PEO), two widely used floccu-lants, in inhibiting mechanical entrainment of kaolinite in flotation using saline water. It was found that anionic MF1011 effectively inhibited kaolinite entrainment, but non-ionic PEO did not. The measurement of in-situ particle sizes, network structures of kaolinite and the foamability of polymer solutions indi-cated that the inhibition of kaolinite entrainment in flotation was governed by the network structures induced by the polymer and the polymer's foamability. MF1011 produced a compact network structure which facilitated the drainage of kaolinite from the liquid between air bubbles and therefore the inhibi-tion of kaolinite entrainment. By contrast, PEO produced a sponge-like network structure with a larger size which retained more water and slowed down the drainage of kaolinite. In addition, PEO was surface-active and increased the foam stability with a thicker film of liquid between air bubbles to carry kaolinite, further slowing down the drainage of kaolinite. This study demonstrates that the reduction of mechanical entrainment in flotation by flocculants is not only related to the size enlargement but also highly dependent on the aggregation structure and the flocculants' foamability. The findings from this work will provide important guidance to select flocculants to minimize fine gangue entrainment in flotation. (c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
    View publication