BUBBLE-SIZE DISTRIBUTION IN A FLOTATION COLUMN

The bubbles that were generated in a flotation column were measured. T he bubble size distributions were obtained both for air-water and air- water-coal systems. The size distribution pattern was fitted to differ ent equations. It was found that the bubble size distribution in both the flotation and cleaning zones follows the Rosin-Rommler equation us ed to describe the particle size distribution in crushing. This study indicates that bubbles in the cleaning zone are always larger than tho se of the flotation zone and finer bubbles are generated when a mixtur e of frothers is used instead of individual frothers.