An experimental study on size distribution and zeta potential of bulk cavitation nanobubbles

Abstract

Nanobubble flotation technology is an important research topic in the field of fine mineral particle separation. The basic characteristics of nanobubbles, including their size, concentration, surface zeta potential, and stability have a significant impact on the nanobubble flotation performance. In this paper, bulk nanobubbles generated based on the principle of hydrodynamic cavitation were investigated to determine the effects of different parameters (e.g., surfactant (frother) dosage, air flow, air pressure, liquid flow rate, and solution pH value) on their size distribution and zeta potential, as measured using a nanoparticle analyzer. The results demonstrated that the nanobubble size decreased with increasing pH value, surfactant concentration, and cavitation-tube liquid flow rate but increased with increasing air pressure and increasing air flow rate. The magnitude of the negative surface charge of the nanobubbles was positively correlated with the pH value, and a certain relationship was observed between the zeta potential of the nanobubbles and their size. The structural parameters of the cavitation tube also strongly affected the characteristics of the nanobubbles. The results of this study offer certain guidance for optimizing the nanobubble flotation technology.

Keywords

nanobubble / hydrodynamic cavitation / zeta potential / size distribution

References

[1] Alheshibri M, Qian J, Jehannin M, Craig VSJ. A history of nanobubbles. Langmuir, 2016, 32(43): 11086.

[2] Li SC. Cavitation of Hydraulic Machinery, 2000, London, Imperial College Press, 32.

[3] Xiong Y, Peng F. Optimization of cavitation venturi tube design for pico and nano bubbles generation. Int. J. Min. Sci. Technol., 2015, 25(4): 523.

[4] Li MD, Bussonnière A, Bronson M, Xu ZH, Liu QX. Study of Venturi tube geometry on the hydrodynamic cavitation for the generation of microbubbles. Miner. Eng., 2019, 132, 268.

[5] Zhou WG, Chen H, Ou LM, Shi Q. Aggregation of ultra-fine scheelite particles induced by hydrodynamic cavitation. Int. J. Miner. Process., 2016, 157, 236.

[6] Zhou WG, Ou LM, Shi Q, Feng QM, Chen H. Different flotation performance of ultrafine scheelite under two hydrodynamic cavitation modes. Minerals, 2018, 8(7): 264.

[7] Tao DP, Sobhy A. Nanobubble effects on hydrodynamic interactions between particles and bubbles. Powder Technol., 2019, 346, 385.

[8] Sobhy A, Tao DP. Effects of nanobubbles on froth stability in flotation column. Int. J. Coal Prep. Util., 2019, 39(4): 183.

[9] Madavan NK, Deutsch S, Merkle CL. Reduction of turbulent skin friction by microbubbles. Phys. Fluids, 1984, 27(2): 356.

[10] Li HZ, Hu LM, Song DJ, Lin F. Characteristics of micro-nano bubbles and potential application in groundwater bioremediation. Water Environ. Res., 2014, 86(9): 844.

[11] Agarwal A, Ng WJ, Liu Y. Principle and applications of microbubble and nanobubble technology for water treatment. Chemosphere, 2011, 84(9): 1175.

[12] Calgaroto S, Wilberg KQ, Rubio J. On the nanobubbles interfacial properties and future applications in flotation. Miner. Eng., 2014, 60, 33.

[13] Sobhy A, Tao D. Nanobubble column flotation of fine coal particles and associated fundamentals. Int. J. Miner. Process., 2013, 124, 109.

[14] Rosa AF, Rubio J. On the role of nanobubbles in particle-bubble adhesion for the flotation of quartz and apatitic minerals. Miner. Eng., 2018, 127, 178.

[15] Calgaroto S, Azevedo A, Rubio J. Flotation of quartz particles assisted by nanobubbles. Int. J. Miner. Process., 2015, 137, 64.

[16] Ebina K, Shi K, Hirao M, Hashimoto J, Kawato Y, Kaneshiro S, Morimoto T, Koizumi K, Yoshikawa H. Oxygen and air nanobubble water solution promote the growth of plants, fishes, and mice. PLoS One, 2013, 8(6): e65339.

[17] S. Cai, H. Shi, X.H. Pan, F.P. Liu, H.W. Xie, Y.Q. Xu, T. Xu, and N. Cao, Effects of micro-nano bubble aerated irrigation on water requirement characters and yield of double season rice, Water Saving Irrig., 2017, No. 2, p. 12.

[18] Bao XT, Chen QY, Xu ZQ, Yue DD, Geng R, Ding YL. Overview of research and application of micronano bubbles technology in fishery and aquaculture sector. Water Purif. Technol., 2016, 35(4): 16.

[19] T.H. Li and H.Q. Lu, The energy dissipation rate per unit mass of jet pump mixture, Mach. Dev., 2000, No. 4, p. 39.

[20] W.B. Cai, H.L. Yang, J. Zhang, J.K. Yin, Y.L. Yang, L.J. Yuan, L. Zhang, and Y.Y. Duan, The optimized fabrication of nanobubbles as ultrasound contrast agents for tumor imaging, Sci. Rep., 5(2015), art. No. 13725.

[21] Kalmes AA, Ghosh S, Watson RL. A saline-based therapeutic containing charge-stabilized nanostructures protects against cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., 2013, 61(10): E106.

[22] Etchepare R, Oliveira H, Nicking M, Azevedo A, Rubio J. Nanobubbles: generation using a multiphase pump, properties and features in flotation. Miner. Eng., 2017, 112, 19.

[23] Fan MM, Tao D, Honaker R, Luo ZF. Nanobubble generation and its applications in froth flotation (part I): nanobubble generation and its effects on properties of microbubble and millimeter scale bubble solutions. Min. Sci. Technol. Chin., 2010, 20(1): 1.

[24] Najafi AS, Drelich J, Yeung A, Xu ZH, Masliyah J. A novel method of measuring electrophoretic mobility of gas bubbles. J. Colloid Interface Sci., 2007, 308(2): 344.

[25] Rowe PN, Matsuno R. Single bubbles injected into a gas fluidised bed and observed by X-rays. Chem. Eng. Sci., 1971, 26(6): 923.

[26] Tian YR, Ketterling JA, Apfel RE. Direct observation of microbubble oscillations. J. Acoust. Soc. Am., 1996, 100(6): 3976.

[27] Sung JS, Burgess JM. A laser-based method for bubble parameter measurement in two-dimensional fluidised beds. Powder Technol., 1987, 49(2): 165.

[28] Tsuge H, Tanaka Y, Hibino SI. Effect of the physical properties of gas on the volume of bubble formed from a submerged single orifice. Can. J. Chem. Eng., 1981, 59(5): 569.

[29] Rodrigues RT, Rubio J. New basis for measuring the size distribution of bubbles. Miner. Eng., 2003, 16(8): 757.

[30] Caicedo GR, Marqués JJP, Ruíz MG, Soler JG. A study on the behaviour of bubbles of a 2D gas-solid fluidized bed using digital image analysis. Chem. Eng. Process., 2003, 42(1): 9.

[31] Zhou ZA, Egiebor NO, Plitt LR. Frother effects on bubble size estimation in a flotation column. Miner. Eng., 1993, 6(1): 55.

[32] Han MY, Park YH, Yu TJ. Development of a new method of measuring bubble size. Water Sci. Technol. Water Supply, 2002, 2(2): 77.

[33] Young FR. Cavitation, 1989, Maidenhead, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 322.

[34] Clift R, Grace JR, Weber ME. Bubbles, Drops and Particles, 1978, New York, Academic Press, 380.

[35] Edzwald JK. Principles and applications of dissolved air flotation. Water. Sci. Technol., 1995, 31(3–4): 1.

[36] Finch JA, Nesset JE, Acuña C. Role of frother on bubble production and behaviour in flotation. Miner. Eng., 2008, 21(12–14): 949.

[37] Azgomi F. Characterizing frothers by their bubble size control properties [Dissertation], 2007, Montreal, McGill University, 14.

[38] Gupta AK, Banerjee PK, Mishra A, Satish P, Pradip Effect of alcohol and polyglycol ether frothers on foam stability, bubble size and coal flotation. Int. J. Miner. Process., 2007, 82(3): 126.

[39] Moyo P, Gomez CO, Finch JA. Characterizing frothers using water carrying rate. Can. Metall. Q., 2007, 46(3): 215.

[40] Karraker KA, Radke CJ. Disjoining pressures, zeta potentials and surface tensions of aqueous non-ionic surfactant/electrolyte solutions: theory and comparison to experiment. Adv. Colloid Interface Sci., 2002, 96(1–3): 231.

[41] Elmahdy AM, Mirnezami M, Finch JA. Zeta potential of air bubbles in presence of frothers. Int. J. Miner. Process., 2008, 89(1–4): 40.

[42] Wu CD, Nesset K, Masliyah J, Xu ZH. Generation and characterization of submicron size bubbles. Adv. Colloid Interface Sci., 2012, 179–182, 123.

[43] Yoon RH, Yordan JL. Zeta-potential measurements on microbubbles generated using various surfactants. J. Colloid Interface Sci., 1986, 113(2): 430.

[44] Xiao W, Zhao YL, Yang J, Ren YX, Yang W, Huang XT, Zhang LJ. Effect of sodium oleate on the adsorption morphology and mechanism of nanobubbles on the mica surface. Langmuir, 2019, 35(28): 9239.

[45] A. Fujiwara, K. Okamoto, K. Hashiguchi, J. Peixinho, S. Takagi, and Y. Matsumoto, Bubble breakup phenomena in a venturi tube, [in] ASME/JSME 2007 5th Joint ASME/JSME Fluids Engineering Conference, California, 2007, p. 1.

[46] Yang HZ. Experimental Study on Enhancive Effect of Hydrodynamic Cavitation [Dissertation], 2006, Dalian, Dalian University of Technology, 36.

[47] Sada E, Yasunishi A, Katoh S, Nishioka M. Bubble formation in flowing liquid. Can. J. Chem. Eng., 1978, 56(6): 669.

[48] Davidson L, Amick EH. Formation of gas bubbles at horizontal orifices. AIChE J., 1956, 2(3): 337.