Particles foam-dried

The physicochemical state of fat in milk powder particles, which markedly influences the wettability and dispersibility of the powder on reconstitution, depends on the manufacturing process. The fat occurs either in a finely emulsified or in a partly coalesced, de-emulsified state. In the latter case, the membrane has been ruptured or completely removed, causing the globules to run together to form pools of free fat. The amount of de-emulsified free fat depends on the manufacturing method and storage conditions. Typical values for free fat (as a percentage of total fat) in milk powders are spray-dried powders, 3.3-20% roller-dried powders, 91.6-95.8% freeze-dried powders, 43-75% foam-dried powders, less than 10%. 

Material preparation The plastic/metal/mixtru e may be cleaned, dried, colored, blended, heated, cooled, or in some way readied for use in the machine. This can be one resin, thermoplastic or thermoset, or combination of base resin and additives. Additives include colors, metal particles, foaming agents, antistatic agents, fillers, fibers, flow aids, stabilizers, antioxidants, mold-release agents, binders, flame retardants, etc. 

An example of the bulk volume structure of foam-dried particles (e.g., maltodextrin/sodium caseinate powder) is shown in Fig. 6.3 (Schoonman et al, 2001). Here, the solid matrix, voids, open and closed pores and bubbles, micropores and cracks create a complex structure that affects both heat and mass transfer during drying. 

Fig. 63 Bulk volume of foam-dried particles (maltodextrin/sodium caseinate powder), according to Schoonman etal. (2001) 1 Solid matrix 2 Voids 3 Open pores 4 Closed pores 5 Cracks 6 Connected pores.

Classically, aerosols are particles or droplets that range from about 0.15 to 5 p.m ia size and are suspended or dispersed ia a gaseous medium such as air. However, the term aerosol, as used ia this discussion, identifies a large number of products which are pressure-dispensed as a Hquid or semisohd stream, a mist, a fairly dry to wet spray, a powder, or even a foam. This definition of aerosol focuses on the container and the method of dispensiag, rather than on the form of the product. 

Otner Collectors Tarry particulates and other difficult-to-handle hquids have been collected on a dry, expendable phenol formaldehyde-bonded glass-fiber mat (Goldfield, J. Air Pollut. Control A.SSOC., 20, 466 (1970)] in roll form which is advanced intermittently into a filter frame. Superficial gas velocities are 2.5 to 3.5 m/s (8.2 to 11.5 ft/s), and pressure drop is typically 41 to 46 cm (16 to 18 in) of water. CoUection efficiencies of 99 percent have been obtained on submicrometer particles. Brady [Chem. Eng. Prog., 73(8), 45 (1977)] has discussed a cleanable modification of this approach in which the gas is passed through a reticulated foam filter that is slowly rotated and solvent-cleaned. 

In suspension processes the fate of the continuous liquid phase and the associated control of the stabilisation and destabilisation of the system are the most important considerations. Many polymers occur in latex form, i.e. as polymer particles of diameter of the order of 1 p.m suspended in a liquid, usually aqueous, medium. Such latices are widely used to produce latex foams, elastic thread, dipped latex rubber goods, emulsion paints and paper additives. In the manufacture and use of such products it is important that premature destabilisation of the latex does not occur but that such destabilisation occurs in a controlled and appropriate manner at the relevant stage in processing. Such control of stability is based on the general precepts of colloid science. As with products from solvent processes diffusion distances for the liquid phase must be kept short furthermore, care has to be taken that the drying rates are not such that a skin of very low permeability is formed whilst there remains undesirable liquid in the mass of the polymer. For most applications it is desirable that destabilisation leads to a coherent film (or spongy mass in the case of foams) of polymers. To achieve this the of the latex compound should not be above ambient temperature so that at such temperatures intermolecular diffusion of the polymer molecules can occur. 

As discussed in Section 1.2.2 the bubble shapes in fairly dry foams and froths (4 gas > 0.83, approximately) are not spheres or distorted spheres, but polyhedrons. In practice there will be distributions of both gas-cell sizes and shapes. In addition to the gas bubbles, froth contains the floated particles, pulp liquor, and a fraction of (hydrophilic) particles that did not float due to bubble attachment, but which were mechanically entrained in the froth. The pulp liquor and these latter particles all have to be allowed to drain back out of the froth. The rate of this drainage will be greatest at the froth-pulp interface (i.e., the bottom of the froth layer) and slowest near the top of the froth layer. Froth drainage equations are discussed elsewhere [53]. The froth needs to be a stable enough foam that some time can be allowed for these drainage processes, and also so that the upper layer(s) of the froth can be swept out of the flotation cell. On the other hand, the froth should not be too stable as a foam so that it will break easily after collection. In addition to the role of the frother, froth stability is also promoted by increasing liquid viscosity. 

Figure 10.7 Illustration ofthe draining froth layer formed on the pulp surface (top, left), producing dry foam on the top and wet foam at the bottom (top, right). Gangue particles drop back to the pulp with the draining water (bottom, left). From Nguyen and Schulze [53], Copyright 2004, Dekker.

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