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Physico-Chemical Elementary Processes in Flotation
Hydrometallurgy, 12 (1984) 275--276
275
Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam -- Printed in The Netherlands Book Review
Physico-Chemical Elementary Processes in Flotation, by H.T. Schulze, Developments in Mineral Processing, Vol. 4, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1984, ISBN 0-444-99643-5, 348 pp., Dfl. 175/US$67.50. This 348-page monograph, which is a revised translation of a German book, provides a review of the present state of the art of physico-chemical processes in flotation from the point of view of colloid science. The book comprises nine chapters: the history of physico-chemical research on flotation, a general description of flotation, an analysis of the elementary stages in flotation, grain size limits of flotability, development of a physically based model of the flotation process, general conclusions from the theoretical treatment of elementary processes, examples of new fields of application of flotation, and the future of flotation research. The chapters are generally well referenced, with an extensive list of references being provided as an appendix. The introduction mentions that the high technological level reached so far in the development of flotation has been sufficient for ores which have a degree of intergrowth which allows easy separation of minerals. In the future lower grade ores of complex composition will need to be utilised, and improvements in the flotation process will be required before these ores can be treated successfully. The ultimate goal of flotation studies is therefore to construct a model by which it is possible to minimise energy consumption and costs of processing. The chapter on the elementary stages of the flotation process is excellent, and provides a mathematical approach to topics such as particle trajectories, theory of film rupture, stabilisation of particles at the fluid interface and transition of bubble--particles aggregates into the froth layer. Also of interest is the chapter on physically based models of the flotation process, which describes in detail chemical kinetic and probabilistic models. The use of flotation for the enrichment of microorganisms for protein production, in waste-water treatment and ion flotation are also discussed in the chapter on new fields of application of flotation. The book ends with a brief look at the future of flotation research, particularly as regards the treatment of ultrafine ores. There is no doubt that this review will fill a useful place in flotation theory, although it remains to be seen how much direct relevance it has to an engineer dealing with the practical problems of ore separation. The number of typographical errors in the book appears to be small, although the large number of equations used means that they are not easy to spot unless one is very familiar with the theory. At $67.50 the price is not excessive, and the book will probably find its way into the libraries of universities and research organisations.
276
The book is now available in Europe from Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, and in the U.S.A. and Canada from Elsevier Science Publishing Co. Inc., P.O. Box 1663, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163. M. L I T T L E F A I R
Dept. of Mining and Mineral Engineering University of Leeds
275
Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam -- Printed in The Netherlands Book Review
Physico-Chemical Elementary Processes in Flotation, by H.T. Schulze, Developments in Mineral Processing, Vol. 4, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1984, ISBN 0-444-99643-5, 348 pp., Dfl. 175/US$67.50. This 348-page monograph, which is a revised translation of a German book, provides a review of the present state of the art of physico-chemical processes in flotation from the point of view of colloid science. The book comprises nine chapters: the history of physico-chemical research on flotation, a general description of flotation, an analysis of the elementary stages in flotation, grain size limits of flotability, development of a physically based model of the flotation process, general conclusions from the theoretical treatment of elementary processes, examples of new fields of application of flotation, and the future of flotation research. The chapters are generally well referenced, with an extensive list of references being provided as an appendix. The introduction mentions that the high technological level reached so far in the development of flotation has been sufficient for ores which have a degree of intergrowth which allows easy separation of minerals. In the future lower grade ores of complex composition will need to be utilised, and improvements in the flotation process will be required before these ores can be treated successfully. The ultimate goal of flotation studies is therefore to construct a model by which it is possible to minimise energy consumption and costs of processing. The chapter on the elementary stages of the flotation process is excellent, and provides a mathematical approach to topics such as particle trajectories, theory of film rupture, stabilisation of particles at the fluid interface and transition of bubble--particles aggregates into the froth layer. Also of interest is the chapter on physically based models of the flotation process, which describes in detail chemical kinetic and probabilistic models. The use of flotation for the enrichment of microorganisms for protein production, in waste-water treatment and ion flotation are also discussed in the chapter on new fields of application of flotation. The book ends with a brief look at the future of flotation research, particularly as regards the treatment of ultrafine ores. There is no doubt that this review will fill a useful place in flotation theory, although it remains to be seen how much direct relevance it has to an engineer dealing with the practical problems of ore separation. The number of typographical errors in the book appears to be small, although the large number of equations used means that they are not easy to spot unless one is very familiar with the theory. At $67.50 the price is not excessive, and the book will probably find its way into the libraries of universities and research organisations.
276
The book is now available in Europe from Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, and in the U.S.A. and Canada from Elsevier Science Publishing Co. Inc., P.O. Box 1663, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163. M. L I T T L E F A I R
Dept. of Mining and Mineral Engineering University of Leeds