• Cavitation flow in an ARHCR is studied combining flow visualization and CFD. • Cavitation is characterized by the periodic motion of CGUs. • Cavitation development process shows high periodicity from flow visualization. • Vortex cavitation is generated at the vortex center of CGUs. • Sheet cavitation is induced in the flow separation region of downstream CGUs.

Interactions between particles and bubbles have been cornerstone for the successful applications of froth flotation to the beneficiations of minerals or coal. Particle-bubble interactions are highly physio-chemical processes on the basis of surface science and hydrodynamics. Though these two aspects are deeply interwoven, we focus on the discussions of the effects of turbulence on the interactions between particles and bubbles, i.e., collision, attachment and detachment. It has to be mentioned this effect is not working in one direction and can affect flotation performance in a complicated way. Only when turbulence effects are well understood, flotation processes can be optimised by suitably changing equipment structure or operating parameters. The aim of this paper is to review the most recent progresses in this aspect and to identify the future development in successfully considering turbulence effects on flotation processes.

In the spotlight of successful breakthrough of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, lipid nanoparticles are becoming an important vehicle to deliver a variety of therapeutics. The encapsulation of mRNA using lipids is a self-organizing process that necessitates fast mixing to achieve uniform supersaturation. This is achieved in a confined impinging jet reactor (CIJR) where two input jets collide and fast mix in the mixing chamber. While CIJR is not a new mixing technology, it stands out for its capability to achieve mixing times below a millisecond. This study presents a critical review of major studies concerning CIJRs, starting with the CIJRs’ structures and flow characterization, through experimental and numerical studies, and closing with successful applications in a wide range of chemical/pharmaceutical processes. The detailed mixing principles, scaling-up, and mechanisms of making nanoparticles are discussed focusing mainly on the hydrodynamic aspect. The objective of the review is to supply essential information for the optimized design and operation of CIJRs, catering to both industry and academia.

Froth flotation is a process that utilizes the surface properties of mineral particles to separate them from unwanted gangue materials. Usually, the mineral particles are either naturally hydrophobic, or surfactant-treated hydrophobic and thus, they are prone to adhere to bubbles. Once attached, the capillary force is dominant in the control of the particle bubble aggregate stability. Capillary force is a function of surface tension and contact angle, which is a measure of particle hydrophobicity. In this paper, the Discrete Element Method has been applied to simulate the interaction between particles and a central bubble in a quiescent liquid with the aim of describing: (1) the motion of the particle sliding over the bubble surface, and (2) the formation of the three phase contact line. Simulation results for particle-bubble separation distance versus time showed excellent agreement with experimental observations. Moreover, the simulations correctly predicted the time when the particle contacted the bubble. Additional simulations were carried out for multi-particle attachment that highlighted the interaction between particles, including collision and rebounding phenomena. These simulations correctly captured experimental observations reported in the literature and have provided valuable insight into the particle loading capacity of bubbles being utilized in mineral flotation devices

A method using a cyclonic–static microbubble flotation column packed with fluid guiding media was proposed for improving flotation efficiency of copper sulfide. The installation of packed fluid guiding media in a cyclonic–static microbubble flotation column was for changing flow pattern in 10 the column by avoiding strong cyclonic flow in the upper region of the column, which can cause bubble-particle detachment. Therefore, the attached particles can be more likely to enter the froth zone instead of swirling in the column. The flow rectification contributed to a smaller bubble size in the column and significantly reduced the number of big bubbles with diameter above 1 mm. This scenario was caused by the damping of swirling liquid motion where bubbles tended to 15 concentrate and coalescence in the center of an eddy. The packed fluid guiding media changed the hydrodynamics in the upper column from a cyclonic flow to a gentle flow and as a result improve the column separation. The application of packed fluid guiding media can decrease the bubble-particle detachment and the flotation recovery of copper sulfide could constantly improve with the installation of packed fluid guiding media in the FCSMC column.