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Updated: Sep 2, 2025

Visually Based Characterization of the Incipient Particle Motion in Regular Substrates: From Laminar to Turbulent Conditions
Published on: February 22, 2018
A review on quantifying the influence of lateral capillary interactions on the particle floatability and stability of
Xiaozhen Ma1, Ngoc N Nguyen1, Anh V Nguyen1
1School of Chemical Engineering and the UQ Node of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-efficient Beneficiation of Minerals, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
Abstract:
Particle-laden interfaces are critical to the flotation separation of hydrophobic particles using air bubbles. After contacting the particle suspension, the bubble surface is loaded with many hydrophobic particles that can get detached during the bubble rise to the top. While many studies of the capillary stability and detachment of single particles from the clean air-water interface have provided significant insights, the particle floatability, detachment, and stability of the particle-laden interface are not well quantified. This paper provides a critical review of the experimental and theoretical investigations of the lateral capillary interactions on the particle floatability and stability of the particle-laden interfaces. Particularly, we critically analysed, summarized, and commented on asymptotic solutions of the Young-Laplace equation for various particle configurations. Then, we critically assessed the outcomes of both the theoretical and experimental studies of the particle-laden interface stability and related the results to particle-bubble detachment behaviours in flotation applications. This review provides an updated outlook of research perspectives that establish the framework for researchers interested in this fascinating field of flotation and colloid and surface science.
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