Modeling hydrodynamic effect on flotation selectivity. Part I: Air bubble diameter and turbulent dissipation energy

The computer experiments on air bubble attachment and detachment, with ore particles of 36 fractions with different size and copper content display the influence of air bubble diameter and energy dissipation on flotation selectivity. The concentration reached 80 at the optimized bubble diameter of 265 µm, which is 5–8 times higher than with the air bubble diameter of 1000–2000 µm standard for impeller flotation machines.