Effect of the solution surface tension for flotation, flocculation and oil agglomeration processes

Abstract

The wettability of solid or mineral particles is known to be an important parameter which influences many technological processes including flotation, flocculation, oil agglomeration, solid-liquid separation, adhesion, emulsification, dispersion and dust abatement. Wettability characteristics of mineral surfaces can be quantitatively characterized in terms of their critical surface tension of wetting values (?c) to achieve selectivity. This paper contributes two more important techniques, which are shear flocculation and oil agglomeration approaches to relate to the solution surface tension of medium and the critical surface tension of wetting of solids or minerals considered, in addition to contact angle and flotation methods used conventionally.