Monitoring liquid and solid content in froth using conductivity

Abstract

This study reports the feasibility of monitoring liquid and fiber rejection during froth flotation of fiber suspensions through conductivity measurements of the rejected froth. The technique was demonstrated in laboratory flotation experiments using nylon and wood fiber suspensions in two laboratory flotation cells. We found that both the total wet rejection and the fiber/solid consistency in the rejection stream correlate well to the measured relative conductivity of the rejected froth. Therefore, the relative conductivity of the froth can be used to monitor the liquid and fiber/solid content in froth. A conductivity sensor can be developed to monitor fiber, filler/ash, and wet/water rejection in flotation experiments. The immediate application of the conductivity technique described in this study is to monitor wet and fiber/solid rejection in industrial flotation deinking operations.

Citation

Zhu, J.Y.; Tan, F.; Gleisner, R. 2005. Monitoring liquid and solid content in froth using conductivity. Progress in paper recycling. Vol. 14, no. 4 (Aug. 2005): p. 21-29.