Determination of the Collision Probability between Bubbles and Nonspherical Particles in Flotation

A new mathematical model of the collision probability between bubbles and non-spherical particles is proposed. In this model it is assumed that the characteristic size of the particle is much smaller than the bubble radius; the particle density is close to the density of the flotation medium and the particle moves along a streamline flowing around the floating bubble (so-called inertialess flotation). So, the stochastic orientation of the particle with respect to the bubble surface was considered. On the basis of this model, the analytical expressions of the collision probability for rod-like and disk-like particles in the Stokes and Levich hydrodynamic regimes were obtained. The obtained results were compared with previous theories and experimental data.