indicates that the combustible recovery by true flotation
was only 4–6% in the flotation of HCC using either de-ionised or
saline water, which suggests that the true flotation process, the
collision of hydrophobic particles with bubbles followed by the rising of bubble–particle aggregates, was almost completely inhibited. When LCC was floated, true flotation was the main
mechanism and combustible recovery by true flotation was
increased from 46% in de-ionised water to 67% in saline water.
Obviously electrolytes in saline water contributed to the increase
of true flotation significantly. Compared to LCC, the flotation of
MCC resulted in a more increase (from 50% to 78%) in combustible
recovery by true flotation, which indicates the beneficial effect of
the additional clay minerals. The synergy between saline water
and the additional 5% clay minerals resulted in 7% more combustible recovery by true flotation