Droplet-surface collisions of relevance for flotation of composite particles /

Date

2018

Authors

Sellapperumage, Pasindu Mihiran Fernando,

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thesis

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Abstract

The main focus of this thesis is to design and develop a collector concept for coarse composite mineral particle recovery in mineral flotation. The need to collect coarse composite particles comes from the historical decrease in ore grades (with valuable components more finely disseminated) and the requirement to minimise energy use in comminution (crushing and grinding of rocks) to free the valuable material from the surrounding rock. Coarse composite particles are not easily recovered in flotation as a result of the limited area of hydrophobic regions on the particle surface, which contributes to the high probability of bubble-particle detachment under turbulent conditions in flotation cells. To address this challenge I have designed a novel concept of using oil droplets containing hydrophobicity enhancing molecules to selectively attach only to valuable mineral containing coarse composite particles, and to spread over exposed regions of valuable mineral and gangue (worthless rock). The expanded oil layer will present a much larger hydrophobic area, which reduces the probability of detachment, and results in high recoveries.

School/Discipline

University of South Australia. Future Industries Institute.
Future Industries Institute.

Dissertation Note

Thesis (PhD(Minerals and Resources))--University of South Australia, 2018.

Provenance

Copyright 2018 Pasindu Mihiran Fernando Sellapperumage

Description

1 ethesis (xxvi, 141 pages) :
illustrations (some colour).
Includes bibliographical references.

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506 0#$fstar $2Unrestricted online access

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