Electrical Aspects of Adsorbing Colloid Flotation. XII. Floc Diffusion Rates in Nonideal Systems

Abstract

The dynamics of the diffusion of charged floc particles to charged air-water interfaces is examined within the framework of a modified Gouy-Chapman model in which the finite volumes of floc particles and inert electrolytes were taken into account. The methods of Verwey and Overbeek were used to calculate the electrical free energy of the floc-interface interaction. For the cases considered, diffusion was found to be quite rapid. Fluid mechanical considerations were used to calculate the capture cross-sections of rising bubbles for suspended floc particles; bubbles in the creeping and inviscid flow regimes were considered. These results were used to calculate removal rates from batch and continuous-flow pool-type foam flotation devices.