Da. Deglon et al., A model to relate the flotation rate constant and the bubble surface area flux in mechanical flotation cells, MINER ENG, 12(6), 1999, pp. 599-608
Two recent flotation models developed by the authors are discussed, viz. th
e bubble population balance model and the attachment-detachment model. The
bubble population balance model describes the history of a bubble populatio
n in a flotation cell in terms of the sub-processes of bubble breakage and
coalescence. The attachment-detachment model allows for the presence of a g
as phase in the flotation cell, both in terms of a gas residence time and t
he attachment and detachment of mineral particles to/from bubbles. When com
bined the two models predict a near-linear region about a point of inflexio
n on the (simulated) response between the flotation rate constant (k) and t
he flux of bubble surface area through the flotation cell (Sb) It is propos
ed by the authors that this region corresponds to the linear k-S-b relation
ship observed in a recent research project on potation kinetics in mechanic
al flotation cells by Gorain et al. (1997). (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier
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