A microscale investigation of liquid bridges in the spherical agglomeration process

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.