The Improvement of the Removal Efficiency of Foam Flotation by the Synergistic Effect of Mixed Surfactant Solutions

Abstract

Experimental investigations on the removal of Cd(II) from aqueous solution were carried out using a foam separation technique with sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laurate. The effects of pH, surfactant, and foreign ions on the efficiency of Cd(II) removal are discussed. Foam flotation with sodium laurate gave better removal efficiency than with sodium lauryl sulfate. It was found that the presence of ions inhibited the Cd(II) removal by foam flotation. It is suggested that the limitation of foam flotation on Cd(II) removal may be overcome by the surface activity of mixed surfactant solutions. The application of the synergistic effect of mixed surfactant solutions to the improvement of the removal efficiency of foam flotation was experimentally verified in this work.

Keywords:

• Foam flotation
• mixed surfactant