Fractal analysis of mineral aggregates via in-situ imaging: Bridging flocculation under high shear conditions

Abstract

The key challenge in selective flocculation is the presence of gangue particles in the aggregate product, due to imperfect chemical selectivity or physical entrapment. This extends to selective flocculation-flotation, where the aggregates experience a continuous shear environment during flotation. As a first step towards understanding how aggregate shape and structure impacts selective flocculation-flotation, this study seeks to estimate the fractal properties of aggregates (30–250 µm) formed from particles (1–20 µm) under flotation shear conditions > 1000 s−1. This was conducted via image processing following in-situ microscopy of aggregates in chalcopyrite, hematite, and mixed hematite-qua..