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6
Modes of Operation
6.1 Preamble
In Chapters 2 through 6, the fundamental physical principles that underpin
foam fractionation were described. Foam fractionation works because the
target species adsorbs to gas–liquid interfaces, and foam supports a lot of
gas–liquid interface but only small amounts of liquid so that the concentra-
tion of the target species is enriched. The processes of adsorption to gas–
liquid interfaces and the hydrodynamics of pneumatic foam and bubbly
liquids have been described to the extent that can be utilized by the designer
of foam fractionators. The understanding of the fundamental physics will
now be used in ord