Floatation extraction of thinly-emulsified tributyl phosphate stabilized by silicic acid

We have studied regularities of floatation extraction of fine-emulsion tributyl phosphate stabilized by silicic acid. Most completely the floatation process occurs at pH 5–6. At the concentration of silicic acid 500–550 mg/dm3 the degree of floatation extraction of tributyl phosphate (α) reaches 70% (floatation time of tributyl phosphate is 10 min). In the presence of HNO3 (1–5 mol/dm3) the value α passes through the maximum at $$ C_{HNO_3 } $$ = 3 mol/dm3. A conclusion was made about an important role in the studied floatation process of not only electrical, but also structural-mechanical properties of the surface of the air drops and bubbles.