Project Description
The conventional technology for recovery of valuable hydrophobic particles from aqueous suspension is froth flotation, where air bubbles rising through the suspension capture the particles and are collected in a froth layer at the top. However, froth flotation is not effective for particles smaller than about 10 microns in diameter, as these fine particles tend to flow around the rising air bubbles rather than be intercepted at the bubble interface.
Our collaborator in Australia has developed a novel technology, called rapid agglomeration, in which a water-in-oil-in-water emulsion is created with salt-water drops covered with a thin hydrocarbon film capture the hydrophobic particles. A key feature is the osmotic flow into the droplet. Our group has modeled this process for the interaction of a single particle and a single drop. The proposed project will use this information in a population dynamics model to predict the overall performance involving many droplets and many particles. Results will be compared with experimental findings from our collaborator.
Special Requirement
The student is expected to have taken courses in computer programming, physics and fluid mechanics. The student have blocks of at least 2 - 3 hours at a time to devote to the project.
Contact
- Robert Davis (faculty)
- Julia Callejon (graduate student)