Semester

Fall

Date of Graduation

2000

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Department

Mining Engineering

Committee Chair

Felicia F. Peng.

Abstract

Fourteen solvents were evaluated through frothing test and laboratory flotation batch tests. A new frothing parameter, initial dynamic froth index (IDFI), is proposed to compare the frothability of solvent. IDFI is derived from initial retention time of froth instead of retention time. IDFI is defined as the limiting slope of the initial retention time versus concentration curves while the concentration approaches zero. IDFI value depends on chemical structure and molecular weight of the solvent. Combined with normalized frothability index (NFI), normalized collapse rate constant (NKc), hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) and dynamic froth index (DFI), IDFI can be a useful index in evaluating the frothability of a solvent tested. Based on correlation between laboratory flotation of fine coals and IDFI values, the preliminary selection of a solvent as a potential flotation frother is made.

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