Understanding the mechanism of bubble-particle interactions plays a critical role in advancing flotation technology. In this study, submicron size bubbles with an average diameter less than 1 μm and a life time of at least several hours were generated using a novel hydrodynamic cavitation method. Effect of mechanical force and water chemistry on generation and stability of submicron size bubbles is investigated. With recent development in measuring zeta potential distributions of colloidal systems, interactions of bubbles and fine solid particles in various electrolyte, surfactant and frother solutions as well as in industrial process water were studied using the stable submicron size bubbles generated by hydrodynamic cavitation. The outcome of this study provides not only a better understanding of bubble-particle attachment mechanism and its role in flotation, but also a direct evidence of armour-coating of bubbles and enhanced bubble-particle interactions by in situ gas nucleation. / Chemical Engineering

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