9
In a microflotation test conducted on an analog iron
ore sample, using a biosurfactant or a combination of bio-
surfactants significantly enhanced recovery while maintain-
ing selectivity. The recovery rate without the biosurfactant
was approximately 20%, but this increased to around 50%
when biosurfactants were used.
Flotation test results conducted in a Dever lab cell using
process water and an iron ore sample from a customer’s
operation demonstrated that the application of a biosurfac-
tant or a mixture of biosurfactants significantly improved
recovery rates while maintaining the same or enhanced
selectivity. This finding aligns with previous results obtained
from microflotation tests on a similar sample.
The recovery rate without biosurfactants was about
70.83%, while adding biosurfactants raised this recovery
to 76.63%. This results in a difference of 5.8 percent-
age points, which is an 8.2% increase from the baseline
recovery.
Using biosurfactants as an alternative to traditional
frothers provides a more sustainable and effective method
for mineral processing, easily integrating into existing plant
processes.
REFERENCES
Banat, I.M., Makkar, R.S., Cameotra, S.S. (2000) Potential
commercial applications of microbial surfactants.
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 53, Pages
495–508.
IISD (International Institute for Sustainable Development)
– “Decarbonization of the Mining Sector- Scoping
study on the role of mining in nationally determined
contributions”. www.iisd.org/.
IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency), “Energy
transition outlook” – Global outlook”. www.irena.org.
Laskowski, J.S. 2003. Testing Flotation Frothers.
Physicochemical Problems of Mineral Processing, 38
(2004) 13–22.
Mahmoudkhani, A. et al. 2022. First Evidence for Shale
Production Decline Due to Formation Damage
Caused by C60+ Paraffin Wax Deposition: A Permian
Case Study. SPE Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibition held in Houston, Texas, USA, 3–5 October
2022.
Mason, R.L., Guns, R.F., and Hess, J.L. 1989. Statistical
Design and Analysis of Experiments. New York: Wiley.
p. 46.
Mukherjee, S., Das, P., Sen, R. (2006) Towards com-
mercial production of microbial surfactants. Trends
Biotechnology. Issue 24, Pages 509–515.
Nagaraj, D. R., Farinato, R., 2016. Evolution of flota-
tion chemistry and chemicals: A century of innova-
tions and the lingering challenges. July 2016 Minerals
Engineering 96–97.
Natarajan. K. A. (2021) Biotechnology of Metals.
Principles, Recovery Methods, and Environmental
Concerns. Copyright Elsevier 2021.
Silva, R., Araujo, A., De Oliveira, J.F., Frother assisted
amine flotation of iron ores. 2008. Singh, R., Dey, S.,
Sinha, N., Performance of Different Classes of Organic
Compounds as Frother in De-ashing of Indian Coking
Coal by Froth Flotation. 2016.
Silva, R.R., Monyake, C., Knesel, G., Cervantes, J. 2023.
“Evaluation of biosurfactants as frothers in froth flo-
tation” FLOTATION ’23 Conference &Exhibition.
November 6–9, 2023, Cape Town, South Africa.
Soberón-Chávez, Gloria., Steinbuchel, Alexander. Volume
20 (2011) Biosurfactants: From Genes to Applications.
Springer Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011.
Tropsch, J.G. (2017). A journey to standardization of
bio-based surfactants in Europe. Inform 28 (6), Pages
20–22.
Gaudin, A. M. “Principles of Mineral Dressing,” McGarw-
Hill Book Company, New York, 1932.
In a microflotation test conducted on an analog iron
ore sample, using a biosurfactant or a combination of bio-
surfactants significantly enhanced recovery while maintain-
ing selectivity. The recovery rate without the biosurfactant
was approximately 20%, but this increased to around 50%
when biosurfactants were used.
Flotation test results conducted in a Dever lab cell using
process water and an iron ore sample from a customer’s
operation demonstrated that the application of a biosurfac-
tant or a mixture of biosurfactants significantly improved
recovery rates while maintaining the same or enhanced
selectivity. This finding aligns with previous results obtained
from microflotation tests on a similar sample.
The recovery rate without biosurfactants was about
70.83%, while adding biosurfactants raised this recovery
to 76.63%. This results in a difference of 5.8 percent-
age points, which is an 8.2% increase from the baseline
recovery.
Using biosurfactants as an alternative to traditional
frothers provides a more sustainable and effective method
for mineral processing, easily integrating into existing plant
processes.
REFERENCES
Banat, I.M., Makkar, R.S., Cameotra, S.S. (2000) Potential
commercial applications of microbial surfactants.
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 53, Pages
495–508.
IISD (International Institute for Sustainable Development)
– “Decarbonization of the Mining Sector- Scoping
study on the role of mining in nationally determined
contributions”. www.iisd.org/.
IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency), “Energy
transition outlook” – Global outlook”. www.irena.org.
Laskowski, J.S. 2003. Testing Flotation Frothers.
Physicochemical Problems of Mineral Processing, 38
(2004) 13–22.
Mahmoudkhani, A. et al. 2022. First Evidence for Shale
Production Decline Due to Formation Damage
Caused by C60+ Paraffin Wax Deposition: A Permian
Case Study. SPE Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibition held in Houston, Texas, USA, 3–5 October
2022.
Mason, R.L., Guns, R.F., and Hess, J.L. 1989. Statistical
Design and Analysis of Experiments. New York: Wiley.
p. 46.
Mukherjee, S., Das, P., Sen, R. (2006) Towards com-
mercial production of microbial surfactants. Trends
Biotechnology. Issue 24, Pages 509–515.
Nagaraj, D. R., Farinato, R., 2016. Evolution of flota-
tion chemistry and chemicals: A century of innova-
tions and the lingering challenges. July 2016 Minerals
Engineering 96–97.
Natarajan. K. A. (2021) Biotechnology of Metals.
Principles, Recovery Methods, and Environmental
Concerns. Copyright Elsevier 2021.
Silva, R., Araujo, A., De Oliveira, J.F., Frother assisted
amine flotation of iron ores. 2008. Singh, R., Dey, S.,
Sinha, N., Performance of Different Classes of Organic
Compounds as Frother in De-ashing of Indian Coking
Coal by Froth Flotation. 2016.
Silva, R.R., Monyake, C., Knesel, G., Cervantes, J. 2023.
“Evaluation of biosurfactants as frothers in froth flo-
tation” FLOTATION ’23 Conference &Exhibition.
November 6–9, 2023, Cape Town, South Africa.
Soberón-Chávez, Gloria., Steinbuchel, Alexander. Volume
20 (2011) Biosurfactants: From Genes to Applications.
Springer Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011.
Tropsch, J.G. (2017). A journey to standardization of
bio-based surfactants in Europe. Inform 28 (6), Pages
20–22.
Gaudin, A. M. “Principles of Mineral Dressing,” McGarw-
Hill Book Company, New York, 1932.