No bare spots should appear at the cell surface, and pulp level should not be too close to the overflow lip, at least in the cells from which the final cleaned concentrate is removed. Not enough frother causes too fragile a froth which has a tendency to break and drop the mineral load. Finally, as the excess works out of the system the froth runs wild and this is a nuisance until corrected. Beyond this, however, further increases will actually decrease the amount of froth until none at all is produced. Up to a certain point increasing the amount of frother will gradually increase the froth produced. Some frothers are more effective if added in small amounts at various points in the flotation machine circuit. The quantity of frother varies with the nature of the ore and the purity of the water. How much Frother to Useįrothers are usually added to the pulp just before its entrance into the flotation machine. For instance, in Australia eucalyptus oil is commonly used because an abundant supply is available from the tree native to that country. The frothers used depends somewhat upon the location. In practice the most widely used frothers are pine oil and cresylic acid, although, some of the higher alcohols are gradually gaining favor because of their uniformity and low price. Finely divided air bubbles thoroughly diffused through the pulp are much more effective than when the same volume of air is in larger bubbles. Frothers such as the coal tar creosotes produce a tough bubble which may be desirable for certain separations.įlotation machine aeration also determines to a certain extent the character of the froth. Brittle froths, those which break down readily, are obtained by the alcohol frothers.

The character of the froth can be controlled by the type of frother. Frothers accomplish this by lowering the surface tension of the liquid which in turn permits air rising through the pulp to accumulate at the surface in bubble form. The function of frothers in flotation is that of building the froth which serves as the buoyant medium in the separation of the floatable from the non-floatable minerals. Flotation Frothers What is the Function of Frothers The order of these groups is no indication of their relative importance and it is common for some reagents to fall into more than one group. Consequently, aside from a few fundamental principles regarding flotation and the use of reagents, it is generally agreed each ore must be considered a problem for the metallurgist to solve before any attempt is made to go ahead with the selection and design of a flotation plant.įlotation reagents may be roughly classified, according to their function, into the following groups: Frothers, Promoters, Depressants, Activators, Sulphidizers, Regulators. Experience obtained from examining and testing ores from all over the world indicates that no two ores are exactly alike. This, of course, is a very difficult undertaking when one appreciates how ore deposits were formed and the vast number of mineral combinations existing in nature. However, little is known of it as an exact science, although, various investigators have been and are doing much to place it on a more scientific basis. This data on chemicals, and mixtures of chemicals, commonly known as reagents, is presented for the purpose of acquainting those interested in froth flotation with some of the more common reagents and their various uses.įlotation as a concentration process has been extensively used for a number of years.

List of Flotation Reagents and Flotation Chemicals.How much Flotation Sulphidizer is needed.Why & When to use a Flotation Sulphidizer.What are Flotation Activators used for?.How much Flotation Depressants is needed.What is a Flotation Depressant used for.What are the Characteristics of a Collector.How much Flotation Collector/Promoter to Use.Common Types of Flotation Promoters/Collectors.What is Function of a Float Promoter/Collector.

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