Optimization of High-Energy Ultrasound Source Parameters for Cavitation Disintegration of Ore Floccules Before Floatation

In the process of ore crushing, hematite, martite, iron hydroxide and magnetite particles are fixed on the surface of quartz grains. Yet, the combined mineral particles can be removed from the surface of the useful component grains while processing slurry by means of ultrasound radiation that causes some physical, chemical and physical-chemical processes in the slurry, including cavitation ones. The research work focuses on the mathematical description of cavitation processes in the heterogeneous environment and the generalized model of air bubble dynamics. On the basis of dependencies enabling us to calculate the optimal initial radius of bubbles for the maximum expansion as to the acoustic frequency and pressure amplitude, the optimal parameters of high-energy ultrasound source are determined.