The interaction between particles and bubbles

The processes by which particles and bubbles interact capture many of the central concepts of colloid science and hydrodynamics. This area of research embraces hydrodynamics, interfacial (including capillary) forces, particle and bubble behaviour and solution chemistry. In this review, we discuss collision, attachment and stability efficiencies. We deal with the identification of a flotation "domain", the deformation of a bubble surface upon interaction with a solid surface, the kinetics of three phase contact line expansion and the determination of attachment efficiencies through to the direct measurement of bubble-particle interaction forces. We have recently carried out a test of collision theory where the latter embraces both inertial and centrifugal forces. The results, concepts and implications of this work are discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.