Int. J. Miner. Process. 61 2001.

2340
www.elsevier.nlrlocaterijminpro

Gas holdup in flotation columns: laboratory

measurements
F.J. Tavera a,) , R. Escudero a , J.A. Finch b
a

Instituto de Inestigaciones Metalurgicas, Uniersidad Michoacana, Santiago Tapia 403, 58000 Morelia,
Michoacan, Mexico
b
Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, McGill Uniersity, Montreal, Canada
Received 24 June 1999; accepted 8 June 2000

Abstract

The gas holdup in laboratory flotation columns was measured using a conductivity probe.
Measurements in a 50-cm-diameter flotation column have shown that gas holdup varies radially
depending on the sparging system array, surfactants addition, and spargers malfunctions. The
column was run in two modes: unbaffled open., and baffled vertically.. Radial differences in gas
holdup are enhanced by using baffles if gas is not uniformly injected through the spargers in the
flotation column; however, the gas holdup is the same among the quadrants of the baffled column
when the gas is evenly injected. Drift flux analysis was applied to estimate bubble size; it was a
bubble size radial distribution in the column that was consistent with the gas holdup. q 2001
Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Frother; Bubbles; Column flotation; Surface area flux

1. Introduction

The gas holdup is a variable that affects flotation performance. Because of the lack of
a reliable technique for measuring gas holdups on-line, in real time in the industrial
environment, it had been considered as an unmeasured variable until a new conductivity
probe was developed and tested Tavera et al., 1996, 1997.. The probe performance
principle consists in measuring the electrical conductivity of the gasliquid or gas

)
Corresponding author. Fax: q52-43-167414.
E-mail address: jtavera@zeus.ccu.umich.mx F.J. Tavera..

0301-7516r01r$ - see front matter q 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 3 0 1 - 7 5 1 6 0 0 . 0 0 0 2 6 - 0
24 F.J. Taera et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 61 (2001) 2340

slurry. dispersion, and the liquid slurry.-only conductivity using flow cells Tavera et
al., 1998., which are related to the volumetric fraction of the gas phase the nonconduct-
ing phase. in the dispersion Maxwell, 1892..
The gas holdup it is a function of a broad group of variables present in flotation:
chemical, operational, and machine variables Klimpel et al., 1986., since the gas holdup
is related with bubble size a function of sparger type, frother characteristics and
concentration, solids coverage, and air flowrate., slurry flowrate, solids content, and
mixing patterns in the collection zone. Gas holdup defines the bubble-flow density or
the bubble surface-area flux., which is related to flotation kinetics Gorain, 1997..
Therefore, knowledge of the gas holdup should be useful when diagnosing and control-
ling the operation of a flotation column.

2. Experimental

The experiments in the present work were carried out in a 50-cm-diameter 4-m-
height. laboratory flotation column. Shown in Fig. 1. In this column, air is introduced
via eight vertical filter cloth spargers in a ring arrangement 40-cm diameter. at the
bottom of the column. The column was operated under batch condition.
When the system contains no solids, the gas holdup can be accurately measured from
pressure difference, which provides a standard to compare against the gas holdup
measurement from the conductivity probe. The gas holdup here is estimated from
pressure using the equation:
g s 1 y D Pr rsl gD L . , 1.
where D P is the pressure difference between two points separated a vertical distance
D L, and rsl is the slurry density Finch and Dobby, 1990.. A differential pressure
transmitter Bailey, model PTSD. was connected to the second and the third pressure
taps in the column, to record the pressure difference.
The gas holdup measurement in the flotation column consisted in the simultaneous
collection of pressure differential pressure transmitters., and conductivity conductivity
probes. at several air flowrates, with the column run with water only with and without
surfactant, Dowfroth 250; 20 ppm.. The air flowrate was monitored and controlled using
a thermal based mass flow controller MKS, model 1562..
The probe cells, which are described in the literature Tavera et al., 1996., were
connected to the conductivity meters Tacussel models CD810, and CDRV62.. The
analog outputs of both conductivity meters and the pressure transmitter were processed
in an ArD converter and transmitted to the computer using serial communication. In
each experiment, two or three similar conductivity probes were used simultaneously to
be able to measure at different positions under the same operating conditions. The
conductivity probes were placed in different radial positions between the second and the
third pressure taps in the flotation column; at given experimental conditions, a gas
holdup from conductivity measurements can be compared with the gas holdup from
pressure measurements.
 F.J. Taera et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 61 (2001) 2340
Fig. 1. Schematic representation of the experimental apparatus. a. Open column. b. Baffled column. 1. Flotation column. 2. Filter cloth spargers. 3. Pressure
transmitters PT.. 4. Serial IrO communication interface. 5. 486 IBM compatible computer. 6. Vertical Baffles. 7. Mass flow controller.

25
26 F.J. Taera et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 61 (2001) 2340

In groups of experiments, vertical cruciform baffles were installed in the column; the
baffles divided the column in four quadrants. Under this scheme, the conductivity probes
were placed in two quadrants at the same depth during the experiment. Fig. 1 represents
schematically the general setup for laboratory tests.
In some tests, the effect of sparger malfunction on gas distribution in the column was
simulated by switching off selected spargers in both open and baffled column modes.

3. Results and discussion

3.1. Open flotation column

The gas holdup estimates from conductivity compared well with those from pressure
Fig. 2a... The figure shows some scatter. One source of scatter is related to the fact
that the gas holdup estimated from pressure is an average value over the volume
contained between the two tapping points, while the measurement with the conductivity
probe is more localised. Therefore, differences can be expected if the gas holdup is not
evenly distributed radially in the column.
The radial distribution of the gas holdup was checked by placing probes at three
radial positions in the column, i.e. in the centre, midway between the centre and the
wall, and at the wall of the column, along a line midway between the position of the two
tapping points. Because the spargers arrangement in the column, air enters as an annular
Acurtain.B The results Fig. 2b.. show the gas holdup is higher at the centre of the
column than at the wall. In the test, the gas holdup determined from pressure fell in
between the values determined from conductivity.
Tests were also conducted in systems containing no surfactant. The results are also
presented in Fig. 2b.. These data consistently show that the gas holdup is highest in the
centre of the column. The gas holdup is higher with surfactant, as expected since the
bubbles are smaller and the rise velocity is lower. The differences in the radial gas
holdups appear to be lower when the surfactant is present. This implies that the
hydrodynamic behaviour of the system is modified by the bubble size Finch and
Dobby, 1990..
To observe the effect of the sparger malfunction on the distribution of air in the
column, the system is simulated by switching off selected spargers.
Fig. 3a. shows the gas holdup estimates with one sparger switched off. Measure-
ments were made along the column diameter passing through the switched-off sparger. It
can be seen that there is a decrease in gas holdup in the region above the switched-off
sparger, while the highest gas holdup occurs in the position opposed to the switched-off
sparger.
Fig. 3b. shows the column operation with two switched-off neighbouring spargers.
In this case, there is a notable change in the distribution of gas holdup when surfactant is
added as compared with that presented in the system without surfactant; without
surfactant, the highest gas holdup is above the switched-off spargers as a result of the
mixing, which brings small bubbles to that region. However, when the surfactant is
 F.J. Taera et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 61 (2001) 2340
Fig. 2. Experimental results in two-phase waterrair systems. a. Comparison of the gas holdup measurements between pressure and conductivity. b. Gas holdups as a
function of the superficial gas velocity; white symbols represent the system with 20 ppm of frother Dowfroth 250., and black symbols represent the system without
frother.

27
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F.J. Taera et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 61 (2001) 2340
Fig. 3. Gas holdup as a function of the superficial gas velocity at radial positions with respect to failed spargers. Simulation of spargers malfunction: a. one sparger is
switched off in the system without frother.; b. two neighbouring spargers are switched off, the white symbols represent the system with frother 20 ppm Dowfroth
250., and the black symbols represent the system without surfactant. Ao.s.B means opposite side to failed sparger.
 F.J. Taera et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 61 (2001) 2340 29

added in the system, changes occur in such way that the highest gas holdup is localised
in the region opposed to the switched-off spargers.
The experimental data on the simulated sparger malfunction implies that the radial
differences in the gas holdup may be due to differences in bubble size among the points
of measurement..
By comparing Fig. 3a. with the data presented in Fig. 3b. for the system without
surfactant, it can be noticed that the radial distribution of gas across the column is
different when two neighbouring spargers are switched off from what occurs in the
system when only one sparger is not working. This implies that the mixing conditions
are different in these two cases, affecting in a different way the distribution of gas in the
column.
Bubble size is estimated from drift-flux analysis, applying the technique presented by
Finch and Dobby 1990.. Drift-flux analysis relates the relative or slip velocity of the
gasrslurry phases Usb . to the properties of the system. The general relationship is:

Usb s Jgrg . " Jslr 1 y g . , 2.

where Jg is the superficial gas velocity, g is the gas holdup, Jsl is the superficial liquid
or slurry. velocity, q refers to countercurrent flow as in most operations of flotation
columns., and y to cocurrent flow.
The Usb is related to the bubble terminal velocity Ubt . and the gas holdup by:
my 1
Usb s Ubt 1 y g . . 3.
By equating Eqs. 2. and 3., Ubt is determined, which, in turn, is related to bubble size
D b ..
There are several models relating Ubt and D b . One used here is the Schiller and
Naumann 1933. model:
my 1
Usb s gD 2b rsl y r b . 1 y g . 0.687
r 18 msl 1 q 0.15Re bs . , 4.
.1
m s 4.45 q 18 D brDc . Rey0
b 1 - Re b - 200, 5.
Re b s D b Ubt rslrmsl , 6.
where Re b , rsl , r b , and msl are the bubbles Reynolds number, the liquid or slurry.
density, the bubble density, and the liquid or slurry. viscosity, respectively.
In two-phase gasrwater. systems, the bubble density becomes negligible. In mineral
flotation systems, the bubble density becomes important and its value depends of the
fraction of bubble surface covered with solids K ., the solids specific gravity rp ., and
particle size Dp . Finch and Dobby, 1990.:

r b s Kp Dp rpr D b q Kp Dp . . 7.
The method of calculation to determine bubble size is described in the literature Finch
and Dobby, 1990; Banisi and Finch, 1994..
30 F.J. Taera et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 61 (2001) 2340

Recently, drift-flux analysis to estimate bubble size was validated in two-phase

systems against an independent photographic method Escudero-Garca, 1998;
Escudero-Garca et al., 1998.. Image-analysis results and the drift-flux analysis predic-
tions were in good agreement; therefore, these experiences show the technique to be a
reliable method to predict bubble size in two-phase systems.
As first approximation, in the application of the drift flux model, Jg can be assumed
to be constant across the column Jg is defined as the ratio: volumetric gas flowrate
cm3rs.rcross-sectional area of the column cm2 ... Fig. 4a. presents the bubble-size
estimates, when one and two spargers are switched off, respectively.
Fig. 4a. corresponds to the system that contains no surfactant and, in this case, the
column has one and two spargers switched off. It can be seen that in the system with one
sparger switched off, it is a radial variation in bubble size such that the smaller bubble
size is presented in the region opposed to that of the switched-off sparger; this implies
that in that region, gas holdup must be higher, as presented in Fig. 3a.. The differences
in bubble size can be produced by bubbles coalescence in the system as a result of
mixing.
Also, Fig. 4a. represents the experimental data generated when the column was
operated with two neighbouring spargers switched off, without surfactant. In the system
without surfactant, the smaller bubbles are distributed mainly in the region of the
switched-off spargers, which is consistent with the gas holdup data presented in Fig.
3b.. However, the addition of surfactant in the system 20 ppm Dowfroth 250.
originates a more homogeneous bubble size across the column, as expected, thereby
decreasing the radial differences in the gas holdup. The effect of the surfactant on the
bubble size is schematically represented in Fig. 4b..
The so-called buoyancy velocity of a bubble swarm Nicklin, 1962. was also
measured using the principles of the technique of Shen et al. 1995.. As anticipated, the
buoyancy velocity decreased as the gas holdup increased.
It was also found that there was a radial profile in the buoyancy velocity, which
reflects the radial distribution of the gas holdup and that of bubble size; these
distributions on the bubble-swarm buoyancy velocity are presented in Fig. 5a. and b.
with and without surfactant additions, respectively.
The data on the gas holdup and the buoyancy velocity measurements are consistent
with the bubble-size estimates from drift-flux analysis. These parameters, in turn, reflect
the effect of the sparger performance.

3.2. Measurements in a baffled column

Large-diameter open unbaffled.-flotation columns are well mixed Gomez et al.,

1995.. It has been recommended that columns greater than 1-m diameter be baffled to
reduce axial mixing. However, some researchers have found that baffles enhanced rather
than dampened mixing. The reason was a ApumpingB action between the baffled section
if slurry and gas are not well distributed and differences in bulk density are generated. In
a laboratory, column mixing was only reliably reduced when the baffle was raised so
that its top was above the level of the frothslurry interface, which stopped the
ApumpingB action Moys et al., 1991..
 F.J. Taera et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 61 (2001) 2340
Fig. 4. Bubble diameter calculated by drift flux analysis as a function of the superficial gas velocity. a. The system is without surfactant; white symbols are for one
sparger switched off, and black symbols are for two spargers switched off. b. The system contains frother 20 ppm Dowfroth 250. and two spargers are switched off.
Ao.s.B means opposite side from failed spargers..

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F.J. Taera et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 61 (2001) 2340
Fig. 5. Radial profile of bubble swarm buoyancy velocity as a function of the superficial gas velocity. a. The system does not contain surfactant. b. The system
contains frother 20 ppm Dowfroth 250.. Measurements are at five radial positions. Two neighbouring spargers are switched off to simulate sparger malfunction; the
term Ao.s.B means opposite side of failed spargers.
 F.J. Taera et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 61 (2001) 2340 33

In the present work, a number of tests were conducted to detect differences in the gas
holdup between sections of the 50-cm-diameter laboratory column after introducing
vertical baffles.
Three-meter-long cruciform baffles were installed vertically in the column and held
50 cm above the spargers and 50 cm below the column lip. In this manner, the column
was divided into four quadrants in such manner that below each quadrant there were two
vertical filter cloth spargers.
Fig. 6a. shows the data collected without surfactant, and with the presence of
surfactant 20 ppm Dowfroth 250. when all spargers are working. This shows consistent,
but minor, differences in the gas holdup between sections. The small differences in gas
holdup among the quadrants suggest that the installation of baffles reduces axial mixing
as compared with the gas holdup in the unbaffled column i.e. Fig. 2b.., if gas is evenly
introduced in the column.
Every effort was made to ensure an even injection of gas among the spargers. In
practice, this may not always be the case. To test, a malfunction of spargers was
simulated by switching off selected spargers in the 50-cm column.
Fig. 6b. shows the gas holdup estimates with two neighbouring spargers switched
off in the fourth quadrant. It can be seen that differences in the gas holdup among the
sections of the column. are enhanced by the presence of baffles when gas is not evenly
injected among the spargers.
From the experimental data presented in Fig. 6b., bubble size was estimated by
drift-flux analysis. It was found that there is a bubble-size distribution among the
quadrants of the baffled section in the column.
Fig. 7 presents the bubble-size estimates in the system without surfactant, and with
surfactant additions.. It can be seen that the data presented in Fig. 7a. in the system
without surfactant. are consistent with the gas holdup measurements presented in Fig.
6b., i.e. the fourth quadrant contains the larger bubbles and lower gas holdups, while
the second quadrant presents the smaller bubble size and higher gas holdups, as it should
be anticipated.
This feature of the gas holdup-and-bubble size is also present when the system
contains surfactant Fig. 7b.., where the bubble-size estimates are plotted as a function
of the superficial gas velocity; this representation corresponds to the data presented in
Fig. 6b..
Interestingly, the experimental data under the presence of surfactant Fig. 7b.. show
that the bubble size increases slightly with the increase in the superficial gas velocity.
This may be due to the fact that the small gas bubbles remain long enough in the column
to coalesce and this being more notable as the gas holdup increases or increasing the
superficial gas velocity.. On the other hand, the system containing no surfactant Fig.
7a.. shows that the bubble size remains almost constant with increasing the superficial
gas velocity with exception of the smaller bubble size that increases slightly with the
gas rate..
3.3. Bubble surface-area flux
Bubble surface-area flux S b , with units of timey1 . is defined as the bubble surface
moving through a unit of area normal to the direction of the bubble motion the last, in
 34
F.J. Taera et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 61 (2001) 2340
Fig. 6. Gas holdup as a function of the superficial gas velocity in a baffled 50-cm laboratory flotation column; vertical cruciform baffled divide the column into four
quadrants. There are two spargers in each quadrant: a. The spargers are working properly; b. Two spargers are switched off in the 4th quadrant. Black symbols are
for the system without surfactant; white symbols are for the system with frother 20 ppm Dowfroth 250..
 F.J. Taera et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 61 (2001) 2340
Fig. 7. Bubble size estimates by drift flux analysis as a function of the superficial gas velocity. Vertical baffled flotation column; simulation of sparger malfunction by
switching off two neighbouring spargers fourth quadrant.. a. The system is without surfactant. b. The system contain frother 20 ppm Dowfroth 250..

35
36 F.J. Taera et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 61 (2001) 2340

the case of a flotation column, would be the column cross-sectional area. in m2rsrm2 .
This parameter takes into account the effect of the bubble size which depends on the
chemical, hydrodynamics and the bubble generation characteristics., and the superficial
gas velocity which depends on the machine characteristics and the operating conditions..
Therefore, S b should be related to the operation performance better than the bubble size,
the superficial gas velocity and the gas holdup individually. S b is a proper measure of
hydrodynamic conditions in a flotation process.
It has been found in mechanical flotation cells Gorain, 1997. that the bubble
surface-area flux has a strong correlation with the flotation rate constant, k. Also, it has
been presented that in flotation columns Gorain et al., 1996., a clear relationship exists
between k and S b , irrespective of the ore type and chemical conditions.
S b can be derived by the above definition as Finch and Dobby, 1990.:
S b s n = SrA,

S s p D 2b ,

n s 6 Qgr p D 3b . , where Qg is the volumetric gas flowrate. ,

S b s 6Qgr D b A . ,

Jg s QgrA,

[ S b s 6 JgrD b . 8.
From the experimental data presented in Fig. 7, the bubble surface-area flux is
calculated using Eq. 8.. Fig. 8 represents the S b values as a function of Jg . It can be
seen that because of the differences in the distribution of gas among the quadrants of the
baffled column, the bubble surface-area flux is different among the quadrants; these
differences in S b are more noticeable when the system does not contain frother additions
Fig. 8a.., i.e. in the second quadrant the bubble surface-area flux presents the higher
values as a result of the smaller size of the bubbles, which are present there. The
presence of surfactant Fig. 8b.. produces smaller differences in bubble size among the
quadrants in the baffled section of the column as compared to those when the system
does not contain surfactant.
If there are differences in S b among the quadrants of a baffled column, this may
imply that the efficiency of the column would decrease in a mineral flotation perfor-
mance, since the carrying rate, Cr , is related directly to S b Finch and Dobby, 1990.,
Cr s S b Kp Dp rpr6. where K, Dp , and rp are the fraction of the bubble surface
covered with solids, the particle size, and the particle density, respectively.
Fig. 9 shows the experimental data on g in terms of the calculated S b ; it can be seen
that this relationship presents no differences among the quadrants of the baffled section
of the column, which denotes that g is equivalent to S b g s S b d br 6 L c 4 where Lc is
the height of the collection zone of the column., being the equivalence between these
two parameters, the mechanical, chemical, and hydrodynamic characteristics of the
flotation process.
 F.J. Taera et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 61 (2001) 2340
Fig. 8. Bubble surface area flux, Sb, as a function of superficial gas velocity. Effect of sparger malfunction on the distribution of Sb two spargers are switched off in
the fourth quadrant.. The column is vertically baffled. a. The system is without surfactant. b. The system contains frother 20 ppm Dowfroth 250..

37
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F.J. Taera et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 61 (2001) 2340
Fig. 9. Relationship between the gas holdup and the bubble surface area flux in a vertically baffled flotation column. The column has two spargers switched off in the
fourth quadrant. a. The system is without surfactant. b. The system contains frother 20 ppm Dowfroth 250..
 F.J. Taera et al.r Int. J. Miner. Process. 61 (2001) 2340 39

4. Conclusions

Localised measurements of gas holdups were carried out in a 50-cm-diameter

laboratory flotation column by using conductivity probes. The experiments were done in
two-phase waterair systems with and without surfactant additions Dowfroth 250.. It
was found that there are radial differences in gas holdup, which depend on the sparger
system arrangement and the sparger performance. The tests showed that if gas is evenly
distributed in the column, the use of vertical baffles reduces such differences in the gas
holdup and lowers the mixing effect.
The addition of frother reduces the radial differences of the gas holdup in the column,
and increases the gas holdup value, as compared with those presented in the absence of
the surfactant.
The addition of frother reduces the bubble size and, as a consequence, increases the
bubble surface-area flux. In these experiments, it was shown that the bubble surface-area
flux varied between 12 and 120 sy1 , which are typical for two-phase waterair systems.
From the experimental data collected in the baffled column, it was found that the
relation S brJg is different among the quadrants of the baffled section of the column,
which appears that each section behaves as an independent column; however, when S b
is related to g , the column operation data is unified, showing the operation of the
column as a whole.
This information suggests that both parameters, S b and g , could be useful to
describe the performance of a flotation column.

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