The kinetics of hydrophobic particle recovery by flotation declines with particle sizes below 20 µm. This work investigated a much-faster novel process, agglomeration, which utilises a high-internal-phase, water-in-oil emulsion as the binder. The effects of changes in the binder composition were studied by varying the emulsifier:oil ratio from 0.2:1 to 100:1, while maximizing the concentration of the dispersed aqueous phase within the binder. The oil consumption was assessed as an inferred film thickness surrounding the individual hydrophobic particles captured by the agglomeration. This film thickness decreased from 156 nm to as little as 4.5 nm by increasing the emulsifier concentration. This result is consistent with an increase in the emulsifier concentration causing an increase in the internal oil–water interfacial area within the binder. Water permeation into the binder, which reduces the viscous resistance to particle capture, decreased to an asymptotic level beyond a 5 wt% emulsifier concentration.

通过浮选回收疏水颗粒的动力学随着颗粒尺寸低于 20 µm 而下降。这项工作研究了一种更快的新工艺，即团聚，它利用高内相油包水乳液作为粘合剂。通过将乳化剂与油的比例从 0.2:1 改变到 100:1，同时最大限度地提高粘合剂内分散水相的浓度，研究了粘合剂组成变化的影响。油消耗被评估为围绕由附聚体捕获的单个疏水性颗粒的推断膜厚度。通过增加乳化剂浓度，该薄膜厚度从 156 nm 减少到 4.5 nm。该结果与乳化剂浓度增加导致粘合剂内部油水界面面积增加一致。