Mechanism of the Effect of Magnetization Treatment of Sodium Oleate Solution on the Nature of Bubbles and the Recovery of Hematite Flotation

To explore the influence of magnetized treatment reagents on flotation bubble properties, this article investigates the effect of the treatment of magnetization of sodium oleate on bubble size, stability, and rise velocity. Based on this, the effects of changes in bubble properties on the three processes of collision, adhesion, and desorption were analyzed by combining the changes in hematite flotation recovery rates under different magnetic field strengths. The results of the bubble diameter experiment show that under optimal conditions, magnetization treatment reduced the average diameter and Sauter mean diameter by 10.71% and 10.02%, respectively. The results of the bubble stability experiments showed that the magnetization treatment prolonged the stability of bubbles, and the half-lives of bubbles at different concentrations were extended by 52.85% and 26.16%, respectively. With regard to bubble rise velocity, the magnetization treatment increased the overall velocity by 6.6 mm/s and strengthened the degree of dispersion of bubble clusters. Under optimal conditions, the magnetizing agent could increase the rate of recovery by 19.8%. By analyzing the effects of magnetization treatment on bubble diameter, bubble stability, and rise velocity, the mechanisms of magnetization treatment promoting the adhesion of bubbles to particles and the inhibition of bubble debonding from particles were explained.