It is well known that mixed collectors can effectively strengthen the flotation of low-rank coal. However, less concern has been paid to the detachment of low-rank coal flotation using mixed collectors. In this study, the force of air bubble detachment from low-rank coal surface treated by oleic acid (OA), dodecane (D), and oleic acid-dodecane (OA-D) collector mixture was investigated using microforce balance. The results showed that the process of bubble detachment from the low-rank coal surface was divided into three stages: relaxation stage, stretching stage, and sliding stage. The equilibrium contact angle and critical contact angle were the transition points between different stages. The order of detachment force required for bubble detachment from the surface of low-rank coal was OA-D > OA > D, indicating a synergistic effect between OA and D. Based on the three parameters of equilibrium contact angle, critical contact angle, and contact line length, a theoretical model was proposed to calculate the detachment force. The calculated results were in agreement with the measured results.
© 2021 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.