Context:

This research developed a dissolved air flotation system using a Venturi tube to produce microbubbles. The Venturi tube replaces the saturation tank and the pressure-reducing valve of conventional systems.

Method:

The system has both suction and injection air inlets, regulates the recirculation flow of the liquid to the tank, and provides a high hydraulic load in a reduced size. Counting and measuring the microbubbles produced via digital image processing helps to characterize the system’s performance.

Results:

The system with air suction produces smaller bubbles than that with air injection. A higher liquid recirculation pressure produces more bubbles and reduces their size in the case of air suction.

Conclusions:

In air injection, the change in flow rate influences the size of the microbubbles. Air injection and recirculation pressure do not influence the number of bubbles generated.

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