The selective agglomeration of a fine coal tailings stream using a high internal phase emulsion binder was investigated using a continuous steady-state plug flow through a high shear constriction. The emulsion binder effectively switches off the viscous resistance to particle–binder collision and adhesion, revealing the remarkable underlying speed of hydrophobic interactions. The emulsion binder is permeable, meaning the lubrication force between the particle and binder vanishes. The binder comprised a 95% aqueous solution dispersed within a 5% organic liquid (including the emulsifier). The agglomeration occurred within a high shear zone formed using a flow constriction within a 25 mm diameter pipe. The performance of the process was investigated at different flowrates in the range of 20–128 L/min, equating to extraordinarily high superficial flow velocities of up to 4.2 m/s and pressure drops in the range of 20–220 kPa. This rate greatly exceeds the nominal superficial feed velocity in flotation of order 0.01 m/s. Provided there was sufficient shear within the flow constriction, it was possible to process fine coal tailings with a feed ash of 50.1%, and generate a product ash of 8% at a combustible recovery of ~78%.

中文翻译：

---

超快速塞流团聚—通过浓缩油包水型乳液粘合剂开发疏水性相互作用

使用通过高剪切收缩的连续稳态活塞流，研究了使用高内相乳液粘合剂的细煤尾矿流的选择性附聚。乳液粘合剂有效地关闭了对颗粒与粘合剂的碰撞和粘附的粘性抵抗力，从而揭示了疏水相互作用的显着潜在速度。乳液粘合剂是可渗透的，这意味着颗粒和粘合剂之间的润滑力消失了。粘合剂包含分散在5％有机液体（包括乳化剂）中的95％水溶液。团聚发生在高剪切区中，该高剪切区是使用直径为25 mm的管道内的流量收缩形成的。在20–128 L / min范围内的不同流量下研究了该过程的性能，等于表层流速极高，高达4.2 m / s，压降范围为20–220 kPa。该速率大大超过浮选中标称的表观进料速度，约为0.01 m / s。如果流量限制内有足够的剪切力，则有可能以50.1％的进料灰分处理细煤尾矿，并以〜78％的可燃回收率产生8％的产品灰分。