Flotation is carried out using the difference in the properties of the mineral surface (phase interface). The main difference between the mineral surface and its interior is that the molecules near the mineral surface have greater free energy, as shown in the following figure. The internal molecule A of the liquid is affected by the surrounding molecular forces, all of which are unbalanced, and their resultant force at A is equal to zero. It can be seen that the underside of the molecule B located on the surface of the liquid is affected by the attraction of the adjacent molecules, but it is not able to exert such a force on the upper portion thereof. Therefore, the molecules on the surface do not reach equilibrium, and there is residual force, which is called surface tension. The mineral surface has a similar situation to the liquid surface. Because minerals are composed of molecules, atoms and ions like other substances, the molecules on the mineral surface also have an imbalance (also called unsaturated bond energy). It has the ability to attract outside molecules (ions). It is precisely because of the unbalanced surface bond energy that the ability of minerals to act on water and flotation agents is determined, that is, the difficulty of flotation. Aluminum Extrusion,Aluminum Tube Profile,Seamless Aluminum Tube,Aluminum Railing Profiles Guangdong Huachang Group Co., Ltd. , https://www.wacangaluminium.com
Factors that form the bond energy imbalance of the mineral surface