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A microscale investigation of liquid bridges in the spherical agglomeration process

Authors :
Stefaan J. R. Simons
D Rossetti
Source :
Powder Technology. 130:49-55
Publication Year :
2003
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 2003.

Abstract

Spherical agglomeration is an industrial process traditionally used to separate or recover fine solids dispersed in a liquid suspension through the addition of a second immiscible liquid (binder) which presents an affinity for the solids and is capable of forming small liquid bridges that hold the particles together. Under appropriate physico-chemical conditions, the desired particles can be selectively agglomerated and removed from the slurry. More recently, the spherical agglomeration technique has been used for the manufacture of high value products, such as crystalline pharmaceutical drugs, and is attracting increasing attention in the bioprocessing area. However, spherical agglomeration has yet to reach widespread commercialisation beyond the minerals industry. This is despite the simplicity of the process, the low cost of installation required and the possibility of agglomerating particles down to a few microns in size and is probably due to the lack in understanding of the controlling mechanisms involved. In this paper, a microscale approach to investigate the mechanisms that lead to spherical agglomeration is presented. The geometry and the strength of liquid bridges formed between pairs of particles with diameters in the range 80–130 μm, submerged in a second liquid, are analysed and compared with values predicted by theory.

Details

ISSN :
00325910
Volume :
130
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Powder Technology
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........e60c68564d12fa21cae2a772a267c9b2
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0032-5910(02)00225-5