Attachment interaction between air bubbles and particles in froth flotation

Direct quantitative measurements of the particle trajectories on the surface of an air bubble were obtained using a CCD highspeed video camera system. Rupture of the intervening water film between the hydrophobic particle and air bubble surfaces with the consequent formation of a three-phase contact was observed. Surface forces had little effects on the motion of the particles with a water film over the bubble surface until the film rupture occurred. The bubble-particle sliding attachment interaction is not satisfactorily described by the available theory. The corrections to the available attachment models were discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved