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Separations
Special Issues
Separation and Recovery Technology for Mineral Flotation and Solid Waste
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Separation and Recovery Technology for Mineral Flotation and Solid Waste

A special issue of Separations (ISSN 2297-8739). This special issue belongs to the section "Separation Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 December 2025 | Viewed by 1008

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yujin Sun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Mining Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, China
Interests: mineral separation processes and theories; flotation theory; colloid and interfacial physical chemistry
Dr. Xiangning Bu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Chemical Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China
Interests: coal flotation; efficient enrichment of microcrystalline graphite; resource utilization of waste lithium-ion batteries; waste aluminum electrolysis cathodes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The advancement of separation and recovery technology for mineral flotation and solid waste is gaining significant attention in both academia and industry. Recent advancements in flotation techniques, including the development of novel reagents and the optimization of process parameters, have shown great promise in improving separation efficiency and selectivity. Understanding the underlying principles and mechanisms of flotation is essential for further innovation and implementation in both industrial and laboratory settings. This area of research not only addresses the challenges of resource recovery but also emphasizes sustainable practices and waste reduction. Innovative methods and optimized processes are essential to enhance separation efficiency and ensure minimal environmental impact. The evaluation of separation techniques through rigorous analytical approaches is crucial for understanding their effectiveness and scalability.

Therefore, I am delighted to invite you to submit your research articles, communications, or reviews to this Special Issue focused on the latest developments in separation technologies for mineral flotation and the recovery and utilization of solid waste.

Dr. Yujin Sun
Dr. Xiangning Bu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Separations is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • separation technology
  • mineral flotation
  • coal-based waste
  • resource recovery
  • sustainable practices
  • environmental impact
  • adhesion force
  • novel reagents
  • bubble–particle
  • wetting

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 3588 KiB  
Article
Influence of Micron Roughness on Droplet Adhesion and Detachment Behavior with Coal Surfaces
by Siheng Hou, Peng Xiong, Xianshu Dong, Hengfei Chen, Shuhuan Li and Yujin Sun
Separations 2025, 12(6), 137; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations12060137 - 22 May 2025
Viewed by 214
Abstract
Surface roughness directly affects the interaction between mineral surfaces and water, as well as the adhesion of particles to bubbles during mineral flotation processes. Currently, there is a significant amount of research on the relationship between mineral surface roughness and wettability, yet the [...] Read more.
Surface roughness directly affects the interaction between mineral surfaces and water, as well as the adhesion of particles to bubbles during mineral flotation processes. Currently, there is a significant amount of research on the relationship between mineral surface roughness and wettability, yet the conclusions drawn are not consistent. To investigate the impact of roughness on the adhesion and detachment behavior between droplets and coal surfaces, this study prepared a series of coal samples with varying roughness using sandpaper of different grit sizes. A highly sensitive adhesion force measuring instrument was employed to study the continuous attachment and detachment processes between droplets and coal surfaces of different roughness levels. Contact angle results indicated that as the roughness of the coal sample surface increased, the contact angle gradually decreased, suggesting an increase in the hydrophilicity of the coal surface. This study proposed a concavo-convex roughness model for predicting the contact angle on coal surfaces, which was validated for feasibility and accuracy through experimental data. The adhesion force between droplets and coal surfaces increased with roughness. As the roughness increased from 0.30 μm to 2.39 μm, the spreading force of the droplet increased from 159.00 μN to 209.60 μN, the maximum adhesion force increased from 406.76 μN to 441.08 µN, and the detachment force increased from 95.37 μN to 102.39 μN. A smaller contact angle between the droplet and the coal surface corresponded to a larger contact diameter and greater interaction force. The forces measured by the adhesion force measurement device showed good consistency with theoretical calculations. This study provides theoretical support for understanding the interaction processes between droplets and rough solid surfaces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Separation and Recovery Technology for Mineral Flotation and Solid Waste)
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13 pages, 9286 KiB  
Article
Investigations into Effects of Inclined Channels on the Forced Foam Drainage
by Yumeng Deng, Miao Jin, Lisha Dong, Jiakun Tan and Chao Ni
Separations 2025, 12(2), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations12020043 - 8 Feb 2025
Viewed by 467
Abstract
Gangue particle entrainment during flotation remains a significant challenge in mineral processing. Previous studies have shown that incorporating inclined plates into the froth zone can reduce the recovery of fine gangue particles. However, the effects of inclined channels on froth drainage have not [...] Read more.
Gangue particle entrainment during flotation remains a significant challenge in mineral processing. Previous studies have shown that incorporating inclined plates into the froth zone can reduce the recovery of fine gangue particles. However, the effects of inclined channels on froth drainage have not been fully investigated. This study employed a custom-designed forced drainage system to systematically examine the impact of inclined channels on foam drainage and the underlying mechanisms. Results revealed that, at an SDS solution injection flow rate of 36 mL/min and an inclined channel angle of 30°, the foam drainage velocity in the inclined channel was significantly higher than that in the vertical channel for both two-phase and three-phase foams. This advantage became more pronounced as the SDS injection flow rate increased. A new drainage pathway formed between the inclined wall and the foam, facilitating faster liquid flow than within the foam structure. This mechanism was identified as the primary factor enhancing foam drainage velocity in inclined channels. These findings demonstrate that inclined channels can effectively improve foam drainage efficiency compared to vertical channels, providing valuable insights for optimizing froth zone structure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Separation and Recovery Technology for Mineral Flotation and Solid Waste)
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