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Mineral Attachment and Bubble Bursting in Flotation Froths
N Barbian1, E Ventura-Medina1 and J J Cilliers1
ABSTRACT
Mineral froth flotation is used to separate particles of valuable mineral
from its associated gangue. It involves the selective separation of the
hydrophobic particles from the slurry into the froth. As air is blown into
the slurry, the hydrophobic particles attach to the air bubbles, while the
waste particles remain in suspension. While the froth rises up, bubbles
start to coalesce and burst, allowing the entrained liquid surrounding the
bubbles to drain and return part of the gangue to the pulp.
Mineral separation is therefore a function of the amount of valuable
material loaded on the bubble shells, as well as the amount of gangue
material entrained in the liquid channels separating the bubbles (Plateau
borders). As a result, the separation performance of the process is
affected by mineral attachment and drainage or bursting in the froth. This
study aims to establish the relationship between solids loading, froth
stability and separation performance. For this purpose, a series of
industrial experiments were carried out to measure mineral attachment as
well as bubble bursting by combining direct sampling of the bubble films
and video image analysis of the froth surface.
This work suggests that the solids loading on bubbles strongly affects
the separation performance. The results generally showed that solids
loading and concentrate grade are closely related, while froth bursting
rate can be linked to the drainage of gangue from the Plateau borders and
also to the overall recovery of valuable mineral. It was shown in
particular that higher loadings, usually associated with higher froth
bursting rates, are indicative of more selectivity in attachment and
therefore a higher mineral grade in the concentrate. Additionally, this
work suggests that bubble solids loading and froth stability are essential
parameters to include in froth flotation models as they allow control and
optimisation of the flotation performance.
INTRODUCTION
In the flotation process, separation is achieved by selective
capture of mineral particles by the bubbles in the pulp. As air is
blown into the slurry, the hydrophobic particles attach to the
rising air bubbles, while the waste particles remain in suspension.
As the bubbles enter the froth, the drainage of a large proportion
of water and entrained particles (both gangue and valuable) takes
place from the slurry layers surrounding the bubbles. As the
bubbles move higher into the froth, the froth is characterised by
an increased air hold-up. The bubbles still have a relatively
spherical shape, and rise in a plug flow fashion. The layers of
slurry surrounding the bubbles are still thick, and drainage of
waste particles from the froth continues freely. Drainage of liquid
from the froth produces major upgrading, as unselectively
entrained particles are allowed to drain back into the pulp.
Further from the pulp-froth interface, the bubble structure
changes from spherical to polyhedral bubble shape. The bubbles
are then separated by thin liquid films, or lamellae. Drainage
occurs into the Plateau borders, the channels formed where three
lamellae meet. The mobility of the froth also decreases because
of the increased rigidity due to the high ratio of attached particles
to water. If further drainage occurs, the lamellae will reach their
critical thickness, causing the bubbles to coalesce or burst on the
surface (Weaire and Hutzler, 1999). This results in the bubbles
releasing their valuable material into the Plateau borders, from
where it may drain back into the pulp through the network of
Plateau borders or reattach to bubbles below (Finch and Dobby,
1990).
1. Froth and Foam Research Group, Chemical Engineering, The
University of Manchester, PO Box 88, Manchester M60 1QD,
United Kingdom.
Centenary of Flotation Symposium Brisbane, QLD, 6 - 9 June 2005
The mechanisms of attachment, entrainment, drainage and
bursting have a characteristic influence on the structural features
and dynamics of a flotation froth. As a result, several qualitative
studies have focused on the analysis of the froth phase and
showed that the froth structure could be used as a useful indicator
of the performance of the flotation system (Feng and Aldrich,
1999; Banford et al, 1998). However, these studies indicated that
there is no unique way to characterise froth structure, but
different parameters can be taken into account for a more
complete description of froth behaviour.
Ventura-Medina and Cilliers (2002) showed through their
model the necessity to understand the relationship between froth
structure and flotation performance with respect to froth stability.
Ventura-Medina et al (2003) consequently measured how
changes in the fraction of air entering the cell that overflows the
weir or air recovery could be related to variations in the
performance of a copper flotation process. This confirmed the
importance of froth stability on flotation performance and
established the need for the direct measurement and monitoring
of froth stability.
Several studies have also identified the need for measuring the
amount of valuable mineral attached to the bubble shells. Since
mineral recovery is achieved by attachment of solids onto rising
air bubbles, the separation performance of the process can then
be linked to the bubble solids loading. A number of authors have
focused on this measurement in order to understand better the
mechanisms of attachment and detachment in the pulp
(Bradshaw and OConnor, 1996) or in the froth (Ross, 1997).
More recently, Sadr-kazemi and Cilliers (2000) developed an
experimental technique to measure the bubble shell thickness and
concentration in coal flotation. Using this technique,
Ventura-Medina et al (2004) successfully measured the solids
loading and mineral content on the bubble shells in two different
copper concentrators. Their results showed in particular that the
bubble loading decreased significantly with an increase in air
flowrate, whereas the mineral content on the lamellae remained
constant for all operating conditions, and was postulated to the
maximum grade that can be obtained from the ore under the
particular mineral liberation, ie if there was no gangue
entrainment.
Although air recovery and bubble loading have been identified
as new indicators of froth behaviour, no real attempts have yet
been made to understand the roles played by both parameters on
the separation mechanisms operating in the froth, and to further
combine them as an indication of flotation performance.
For this purpose, a series of industrial experiments were
carried out to measure mineral attachment as well as bubble
bursting by combining direct sampling of the bubble films and
video image analysis of the froth surface. This paper presents the
experimental results, and attempts to relate them to the
performance of the flotation process.
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
Mineral attachment
The solids content in bubble lamellae can be measured by using
the method proposed by Sadr-kazemi and Cilliers (2000) and
Ventura-Medina et al (2004). A clean microscope glass slide is
used to touch the curved surface of a single bubble, so bursting
the bubble and transferring the lamella contents onto the slide.
321
N BARBIAN, E VENTURA-MEDINA and J J CILLIERS
The sample is allowed to dry and is subsequently weighed to
determine the amount of solids attached in the lamellae. The
images of the glass slides are also video recorded. The area
covered by the bubble-print is determined by using image
processing. Hence, the bubble solids loading can be calculated:
m contribution from the Plateau borders (non-selective entrainment
= (1)
A
where:
m is the amount of solids on the slide
A is the surface area of the bubble-print
Under steady-state conditions it is possible by multiple
sampling to collect enough material to determine also the
average grade of the material attached in the bubble lamellae.
Samples can be washed in a container full of clean water such
that enough material for assays is collected. Since this sample
only contains attached material (hydrophobic particles), this
gives an indication of the maximum grade that could be achieved
by flotation under the given operating conditions.
Bubble bursting
The fraction of bubbles bursting in a froth was first introduced by
Woodburn et al (1994), who developed a semi-empirical model
combining froth surface features with froth dynamics. The
model, based on image analysis of the froth surface, introduced
different parameters to account for froth structure, in particular
the froth bubble surface area flux, which is a function of the
fraction of air overflowing the cell, or its complement, the
fraction of air leaving the froth through bubble bursting.
Banford et al (1998) used a similar model to relate froth
structure to reagent addition and cell performance. The
measurements are performed by filming a batch flotation
experiment and using image processing to determine the average
diameter db, specific surface area Sb and velocity vf of the
bubbles on top of the froth. From these measurements, the
flowrate of bubble surface area b overflowing the weir can be
quantified as well as the volumetric flowrate of air leaving the
top surface of the froth Qout (Equation 2).
b = Qout S b = v f hw w S b (2)
A stability parameter can be defined (Equation 3),
representing the fraction of air introduced in the pulp that
overflows the cell as unbroken bubbles, or air recovery:
Qout v f hw w
= = (3)
Q Q
where:
is the fraction of air in the overflowing froth and is often
considered as unity
hw is the height of froth overflowing at the weir
w is the weir lip length.
hw can be measured and varies with operational conditions
whereas w depends upon the design of the cell. The higher , the
lower the loss of air by bubble breakage and the higher the froth
stability. Note that the complement to is the fraction of bubbles
bursting on the top surface of the froth (1 - ).
Ventura-Medina and Cilliers (2002) used dynamic image
analysis and froth surface sampling to develop a flotation
performance model based on mass fluxes. The model relies on a
froth structure in which the valuable material is selectively
322 Brisbane, QLD, 6 - 9 June 2005
attached on the bubble lamellae while the water separating the
bubbles transports non-selectively entrained valuable and gangue
material. By deriving mass flowrate equations, they showed that
the flow of valuable material to the concentrate is related to the
overflow of bubble surface, weighted by a linear contribution
from the lamellae (loading of valuable material) and a non-linear
of valuable material). The equation for the mass flowrate of
valuable minerals can be written as:
v = b M la + pb
s M
pb
(4)
where:
subscripts v and s refer to valuable and total solids
respectively
superscripts la and pb refer to lamellae and the Plateau
borders respectively
Mla and Mpb correspond to the grade of valuable mineral M in
the lamellae and the Plateau borders respectively
spb is the mass flowrate of solids in the Plateau borders
b is the flowrate of bubble surface area
is bubble solids loading as previously defined
la
M corresponds to the amount of valuable mineral loaded per
unit area of lamellae
INDUSTRIAL EXPERIMENTS
Industrial experiments were carried out in order to measure the
bubble solids loading and bubble bursting fraction and relate
them to the flotation performance of the cell. The flotation
performance was quantified by grade and flowrate of valuable
mineral (copper). The study was confined to the first cell of the
rougher bank in the flotation circuit. The operational variables
considered were air flowrate, froth depth and frother addition.
Experimental system
Industrial-scale experiments were carried out in the rougher cells
of two copper flotation circuits, Pyhsalmi Mine, Finland, and
Northparkes Mine, NSW Australia.
In Pyhsalmi, the ore contains copper as chalcopyrite
(CuFeS2). The cell is a circular Outokumpu tank with a diameter
of 1.2 m. A feed flowrate of 0.3 m3/min was used in all
experiments, with a solid content of about 40 per cent by mass, a
nominal particle size of 40 per cent passing 38 m, and a feed
copper content of about 0.8 per cent by mass. All measurements
were done under steady state.
In Northparkes, all measurements were done in the first cell of
the rougher bank. The ore processed in Northparkes also contains
copper (mainly as bornite Cu5FeS4, and chalcopyrite, CuFeS2).
The rectangular rougher cells are 2.66 m wide by 3.34 m long. A
feed flowrate of about 750 m3/hr was used in all experiments,
with a solid content of about 40 per cent by mass, a nominal
particle size of 65 per cent passing 75 m, and a copper content
of about 0.7 per cent by mass.
Samples of feed, concentrate and tails were taken, and after
filtering and drying, solids content, copper, and sulfur content
were determined for each sample.
The solids content in bubble lamellae was measured by using
the method previously described. Three separate measurements
were done for each set of experimental conditions, as described
by Ventura-Medina et al (2004). Single-slide touching sampling
was carried out to collect enough material (80 samples) for the
grade of the material in the bubble lamellae to be determined.
Centenary of Flotation Symposium
 MINERAL ATTACHMENT AND BUBBLE BURSTING IN FLOTATION FROTHS

A digital video camera and a high intensity light were set up

near the lip of the cell and above the froth surface. Under steady 0.016
state conditions and in each experiment the top surface of the froth
was video recorded for off-line image processing. Images were 0.014
grabbed and analysed to estimate bubble size distribution, average 0.012
bubble size and froth velocity of the overflowing froth. The image 1.3 cm/s
0.010

(g/cm 2)
processing was performed using the machine vision system
Smartfroth (Sweet et al, 2000; De Jager et al, 2003). These 1.9 cm/s
0.008
parameters were obtained by processing the digital videos over a 2.5 cm/s
period of 20 minutes from which average values were produced. 0.006
The operational variables manipulated during the study were 0.004
air flowrate (Q), froth depth (h) and frother concentration. Each
variable was studied when possible at low, standard and high 0.002
values and will be referred to as such. Tables 1 and 2 show the
0.000
actual values of the superficial gas velocity, froth depth and
frother concentration considered for each mine. 80% 85% 90% 95% 100%
1-
TABLE 1
Values for the operational variables in Pyhsalmi.
FIG 1 - Bubble solids loading as a function of the fraction of
Condition Variable bubbles bursting and superficial gas velocities in Pyhsalmi.
Superficial gas Froth depth Frother addition
velocity (cm/s) (mm) (ml/min)
Low 1.3 100 Nil
Standard 1.5 200 1.5 0.016
High 1.9 300 3 0.014
0.012
1.0 cm/s
(g/cm2 )

TABLE 2
Values for the operational variables in Northparkes.
Condition Variable
Superficial gas Froth depth Frother addition
velocity (cm/s) (mm) (ml/min)
Low 1.0 110 65
Standard 1.1 155 75
High 1.2 200 95
Experiments were performed in which the condition of a single
variable was fixed and variations in the other two were done in
order to complete all the possible combination of conditions.
Results: mineral attachment and bubble bursting
fraction
The fraction of bubbles bursting is directly estimated from image
processing results of average bubble size and froth velocity. The
average bubble solids loading for Pyhsalmi and Northparkes are
presented respectively in Figures 1 and 2 as a function of the
bubble bursting fraction for the different superficial gas
velocities studied.
It is clear from Figures 1 and 2 that the bubble loading
increases with froth bursting for each air flowrate investigated.
As first suggested by Finch and Dobby (1990) and observed by
Ross (1997), the rupture of lamellae loaded with solids on the
surface results in a release of valuable material into the Plateau
borders where particles can reattach to lower bubbles in the froth
or form multiple layers inside the bubbles. Note that over the set
of conditions studied, the fraction of bubbles bursting in
Pyhsalmi is generally higher that in Northparkes, and therefore
results in significantly higher bubble loadings.
Even though bubble loading and bursting fraction are
positively correlated, Figures 1 and 2 indicate that a given bubble
loading can be associated with different bursting fractions,
suggesting that both parameters play different roles on the
performance of the flotation cell.
0.010
1.1 cm/s
0.008
1.2 cm/s
0.006
0.004
0.002
0.000
60% 65% 70% 75% 80% 85%
1-
FIG 2 - Bubble solids loading as a function of the fraction of
bubbles bursting and superficial gas velocities in Northparkes.
Another contribution to the increase in loading is the
coalescence in the froth that causes with bursting a decrease in
the flow of bubble surface area over the weir. The total surface
area available for the mass of particles present in the froth is
therefore lower, and the average loading on bubbles increases.
This is illustrated for Pyhsalmi in Figure 3 and Northparkes in
Figure 4, where the bubble loading is shown as a function of the
flow of bubble surface area and for three different ranges of
bubble bursting fractions.
Equations 2 and 3 suggest that low flowrates of bubble surface
are obtained at low air flowrate and high bursting fraction (low
). As first measured by Ventura-Medina et al (2004), low air
flowrates are associated with higher mineral loadings. Both the
effects of particle reattachment after bursting and high mineral
attachment at low air rate are combined for low flowrates of
bubble surface area, and therefore result in significantly higher
loading on the bubbles, as clearly shown in Figure 3.
The data obtained in Northparkes is more scattered than for
Pyhsalmi, however the same general trends can be observed. An
increase in froth bursting associated with a drop in flowrate of
bubble surface causes the bubbles to become more heavily
loaded with mineral.

Centenary of Flotation Symposium Brisbane, QLD, 6 - 9 June 2005 323

N BARBIAN, E VENTURA-MEDINA and J J CILLIERS

0.016 100%
0.014
90%
0.012
0.010 94-100%
(g/cm 2)

80%

Cu /Cu la
87-94% 2
0.008 = 0.004 g/cm
80-87% 70%
0.006
0.004
60%
0.002
0.000 50%
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 0.000 0.004 0.008 0.012 0.016

(m 2/s) (g/cm 2)
b

FIG 3 - Bubble solids loading as a function of the flow of bubble FIG 5 - Concentrate grade ratio as a function of the bubble solids
surface and for different bursting fractions in Pyhsalmi. loading for Pyhsalmi.

0.016 100%
0.014 90%
80%
0.012
70%
75-100%
(g/cm 2)

0.010 60%
Cu/Cu la

70-75%
0.008 50% = 0.005 g/cm 2
60-70% 40%
0.006
30%
0.004 20%
0.002 10%
0.000 0%
0 2 4 6 8 10 0.000 0.002 0.004 0.006 0.008 0.010
2
b
2
(m /s) (g/cm )

FIG 4 - Bubble solids loading as a function of the flow of bubble FIG 6 - Concentrate grade ratio as a function of the bubble solids
surface and for different bursting fractions in Northparkes. loading for Northparkes.

concentrate. Furthermore, bubble loadings above 0.004 g/cm2 are

Results: flotation performance
Flotation performance is described by the concentrate grade
ratio, ie the ratio of concentrate grade to lamellae grade (Cu/Cula)
and the recovery of valuable material. The recoveries were
calculated from the mass balances across the cell and the assays
of copper. The lamellae grade was postulated by Ventura-Medina
et al (2004) to the maximum grade that can be obtained from the
ore under the particular mineral liberation, ie if there was no
gangue entrainment. As a result, the ratio Cu/Cula describes how
close the concentrate grade is from the maximum grade that
could be achieved, and can therefore be related to the degree of
gangue entrainment in the froth.
Concentrate grade
The concentrate grade ratio is plotted as a function of bubble
solids loading for Pyhsalmi and Northparkes respectively in
Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 illustrates clearly how the concentrate
grade first increases with bubble loading until it reaches a plateau
where the grade achieved is limited by the value of the lamella
grade. As a result, even though bubble loadings range from 0.002
to 0.014 g/cm2 in Pyhsalmi, an increase in bubble loading above
0.004 g/cm2 does not result in further upgrading of the
likely to result in a decrease in mineral recovery due to the high
bursting fraction and low flow of bubble surface observed under
those conditions. These aspects will be investigated in greater
detail later in the discussion.
The concentrate grade ratios found in Northparkes show a
wider range than in Pyhsalmi. Figure 6 confirms that the
concentrate grade is closely related to the bubble solids loading.
However, the concentrate grades vary between ten per cent and
95 per cent of the lamellae grade suggesting that the levels of
entrainment are significantly higher in Northparkes. Most of the
measurements are indeed situated at less than 80 per cent of the
lamellae grade, contrary to Pyhsalmi, where almost all
concentrate grades were reaching more than 80 per cent of the
maximum grade. Nevertheless, Figure 6 still suggests that for
bubble loadings above approximately 0.005 g/cm2 no further
upgrading is obtained in the froth.
Ventura-Medina and Cilliers (2002) suggested that when film
rupture occurs, solid particles in the lamellae enter the Plateau
borders. Their results confirmed that as the froth bursting
fraction increases, so does the concentration of valuable mineral
in the Plateau borders. Figures 1 and 2 indicated that bubble
loading and bursting rate are positively correlated. The increase
in the concentrate grade can therefore be attributed to both an

324 Brisbane, QLD, 6 - 9 June 2005 Centenary of Flotation Symposium

 MINERAL ATTACHMENT AND BUBBLE BURSTING IN FLOTATION FROTHS

increase in the amount of valuable attached to the bubbles and an

increase in the concentration of valuable in the plateau borders.
100% 2
Ross (1997) first suggested in his experiments that the bubbles > 4 mg/cm
might reach a point where their surfaces are fully covered, and 95%
no further reattachment is possible therefore transferring the
totality of the attached particles into the Plateau borders and 90% 7-14 mg/cm2
significantly improving its grade.

Cu/Cu la
2
It is worth noting that a monolayer of closely packed spherical < 4 mg/cm 4-7 mg/cm2
85%
chalcopyrite particles of diameter 20 m, will occupy 90 per cent 0-4 mg/cm2
of the bubble surface area, and will result in a loading of 80%
0.005 g/cm2. This suggests that particles in Pyhsalmi and
Northparkes might attach to the lamellae until a monolayer of 75%
closely packed particles is formed. At this point, significant
amounts of valuable material start to be released in the Plateau 70%
borders, therefore rapidly saturating the Plateau borders and
reaching the maximum grade that can be achieved under the 72% 76% 80% 84% 88%
particular mineral liberation. Cu recovery

Grade-recovery maps
FIG 7 - Grade-recovery map for different bubble loadings in
The Grade-Recovery maps for Pyhsalmi are shown in Figure 7
Pyhsalmi.
for three ranges of bubble solids loading, and in Figure 8 for
three ranges of bubble bursting fraction. As suggested in Figure
5, an approximate boundary corresponding to a bubble loading of
4 mg/cm2 has been added for easier interpretation on Figures 7
and 8. The plots clearly summarise the information given by the 100%
bubble solids loading and the bubble bursting fraction. Both plots > 4 mg/cm2
display the characteristics of a typical grade-recovery curve, 95%
where mineral recovery is made at the expense of grade.
90% 80-87%
% Cu/ % Cu la

Low mineral attachment on the bubbles corresponds to

significantly lower grades in the concentrate. However, the low 87-94%
bursting rates observed in those conditions result in a higher flow 85% < 4 mg/cm2
of bubble surface over the weir (Figure 3), and therefore higher 94-100%
overall recoveries of valuable mineral. 80%
On the other hand, an increase in mineral attachment
associated with a higher bursting fraction results in a grade 75%
improvement. It is also worth noticing that for loadings above
4 mg/cm2, the grade improvement becomes less significant, 70%
while the high froth bursting fractions that can be associated with 72% 76% 80% 84% 88%
these conditions (Figure 1) cause the recovery to significantly
decrease. The operating conditions should be such that the Cu recovery
bubble loading is situated just above 4 mg/cm2 (between 4 and
7 mg/cm2) and the froth bursting rate remains below 94 per cent.
Similarly, the grade-recovery curves for Northparkes are FIG 8 - Grade-recovery map for different bursting fractions in
shown in Figure 9 for three ranges of bubble solids loading, and Pyhsalmi.
in Figure 10 for three ranges of bubble bursting fraction. As
suggested in Figure 6, an approximate border corresponding to a
bubble loading of 5 mg/cm2 has been added for easier
interpretation on Figures 9 and 10. The range of grades and
recoveries observed for Northparkes are significantly wider than 100%
for Pyhsalmi. Nevertheless, the influence of both the bubble > 5 mg/cm2
loading and bursting fractions on the overall flotation 80%
performance confirms the observations previously made on
4.5-6 mg/cm2
Figures 7 and 8 for a completely different orebody.
60%
Cu /Cu la

Higher loadings are indicative of more selectivity in 3.5-4.5 mg/cm2

attachment and therefore a higher copper grade in the < 5 mg/cm2 2-3.5 mg/cm2
concentrate. However, only bubble loadings reaching 40%
approximately 5 mg/cm2 in Northparkes produce a concentrate
whose grade reaches 90 per cent of the lamellae grade, contrary 20%
to Pyhsalmi where almost all conditions allowed the concentrate
grade to attain 90 per cent of its maximum value. In addition, if 0%
high bubble loadings are mostly associated with high bursting 0% 20% 40% 60%
rates and low recoveries, it is possible here to reach high mineral
attachment while operating at a bursting fraction of less than 75 Cu recovery
per cent (Figure 4). As a result, the small loss of flow of bubble
surface due to bursting is compensated by a high mineral
attachment on the bubbles (Figure 6), therefore maintaining the FIG 9 - Grade-recovery map for different bubble loadings in
copper recovery above 40 per cent. Northparkes.

Centenary of Flotation Symposium Brisbane, QLD, 6 - 9 June 2005 325

N BARBIAN, E VENTURA-MEDINA and J J CILLIERS
100%
> 5 mg/cm 2
80%
65-70%
60%
Cu /Cu la
70-75%
< 5 mg/cm 2
75-80%
40%
20%
0%
0% 20% 40% 60%
Cu recovery
FIG 10 - Grade-recovery map for different bursting fractions in
Northparkes.
On the other hand, low bursting fractions (less than 70 per
cent) result in high mineral recoveries without allowing enough
upgrading in the froth. The bubble loadings associated with these
conditions remain low while the entrainment of gangue remains
too high to promote an efficient separation of the valuable
mineral.
CONCLUSIONS
The experimental tests carried out on two different orebodies
confirmed the importance of the bubble solids loading and the
froth bursting fraction on the separation mechanisms operating in
the froth. These two parameters were identified as key indicators
of the flotation performance. As a whole, the study actually
confirms what has been commonly believed within generations
of flotation metallurgists, ie that the froth becomes more
selective when it is under stress (froth bursting) and that particles
have to compete for the limited number of available sites on the
surface of bubbles (upgrading with bubble loading).
In particular, the study established that bubble solids loading
and froth bursting fraction are positively correlated. When film
rupture occurs, solid particles in the lamellae enter the Plateau
borders where particles can reattach to lower bubbles in the froth
or form multiple layers inside the bubbles.
Consequently, the bubble loading was found to be closely
related to the mineral grade in the concentrate. Higher loadings
result in more selectivity in attachment and therefore a higher
copper grade in the concentrate. However, the increase in the
quality of the concentrate remains limited by the grade on the
bubble lamellae. No significant grade improvements were
measured at either Pyhsalmi for loadings above 4 mg/cm2 or
Northparkes for loadings above 5 mg/cm2 at which values the
mineral content in the concentrate had reached over 95 per cent
of the lamellae grade. These values were found to be close to the
loading given by a monolayer of closely packed chalcopyrite
particles. This suggested that the bubbles might reach a point
where their surfaces are fully covered, therefore transferring
further valuable material into the Plateau borders and rapidly
reaching a concentrate grade close to the mineral content on the
lamellae.
The fraction of bubbles bursting in the froth was found to be
linked to mineral recovery. High bursting fractions usually result
in a lower flow of bubble surface and therefore a lower mineral
recovery. However, froths displaying high bursting fractions
allow the liquid surrounding the bubbles to drain and return part
326 Brisbane, QLD, 6 - 9 June 2005
of the gangue to the pulp. In addition, the rupture of the lamellae
promotes detachment of valuable mineral into the Plateau
borders, therefore increasing the overall concentrate grade.
Experiments in Pyhsalmi showed that most operating conditions
allowed high froth bursting fractions and therefore drainage of
most of the gangue, resulting in overall concentrate grades close
to the value of the lamellae grade. On the other hand, the lower
bursting rates in Northparkes significantly lowered the grade of
the final concentrate.
Finally, since a given bursting rate can be associated with
different bubble loadings, and therefore a given mineral recovery
can be associated with different concentrate grades, it was shown
that both measurements are needed to give a full indication of the
flotation performance.
The bubble solids loading and froth bursting fraction therefore
play a key role in the description of the separation mechanisms
operating in the froth. This work suggests that bubble solids
loading and froth bursting are essential parameters to include
into froth flotation models as they allow control of the
contribution from the bubble lamellae towards overall mineral
recovery and therefore optimisation of the flotation performance.
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De Jager, G, Hatfield, D P, Bradshaw, D J, Francis, J J and Rapacz, B M,
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NOMENCLATURE
Latin letters
A Bubble surface sampled with microscope slide (m2)
h Froth depth in industrial flotation cells (m)
hw Height of froth overflowing at the weir (m)
Centenary of Flotation Symposium
 MINERAL ATTACHMENT AND BUBBLE BURSTING IN FLOTATION FROTHS

m Mass of particles loaded recovered on microscope slide (g) Greek letters

M la
Grade of valuable mineral M in the lamellae Fraction of air overflowing the weir or air recovery
M pb
Grade of valuable mineral M in the Plateau borders v Mass flowrate of valuable mineral (g/s)
Q Air flowrate introduced in the cell (m3/s) spb Mass flowrate of solids in the Plateau borders (g/s)
Qout Air flowrate overflowing the weir (m3/s) Bubble solids loading (g/m2)
Sb Froth specific surface area (m-1) b Flowrate of bubble surface area (m2/s)
vf Froth overflowing velocity (m/s) Fraction of air in the overflowing froth
W Weir width (m)

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