ABSTRACT
Direct surface force measurements confmn the DLVO theory for many cases [1, 2]. However, for mineral particles approaching an air bubble the situation becomes much more complicated. Under these circumstances non-DLVO forces are introduced into the extended DLVO theory [3, 4]. The most significant non-DLVO forces for particlebubble interactions include steric forces, which are due to macromolecular reagents used as depressants or flocculants in flotation, and the solvent-structure (mediated) forces.
