Froth touch samples viewed with Scanning Electron Microscopy

The stability of the thin films found in the froth phase of flotation plays an important role in the overall efficiency of the separation process. In turn, the physical behaviour of the particles attached to the films has a direct impact on the lamella stability. This effect is not fully understood. The film solids loading, or attached mass to area ratio, is an indicator of froth stability and has been measured by touch sampling of surface bubbles. Multiple samples can also be assayed as an indicator of maximum possible grade. Here the touch sample technique is used to show the particle packing arrangement on the film. This work presents images of touch samples from the top of the froth viewed under a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Froth samples were obtained during batch flotation of glass beads with a size fraction of 90–150 μm. The packing arrangement of the particles attached to the surface lamellae were clearly resolved, making it possible to obtain a measure of film packing density using image analysis. These results can be used to validate and expand physical models that predict film stability.