13
CONCLUSIONS
Using Senfroth 200 as the industry baseline, remarkable
flotation kinetic increases were observed with AECI Mining
Chemicals developed frothers in the first concentrate. Even
in the worst-case scenarios, 4E PGM recovery increased by
more than 5% at a slightly higher concentrate grade.
The results produced by formulating and innovating
frothers to address specific industry challenges have been
encouraging. Frothers can be specialized blends and should
not be underestimated. Testing a frother on a plant scale
does not have to be as daunting as with collectors, enabling
the identification of the best frother-collector combina-
tions at an industrial scale. AECI Mining Chemicals bench
scale test work motivated plant-scale trials that have suc-
cessfully transitioned to commercialization. AECI Mining
Chemicals believes that the methodology described in this
paper is a better way to screen frothers for the industry.
REFERENCES
[1] Farrokhpay, S. (2011). The significance of froth sta-
bility in mineral flotation -A review. Advances in
Colloid and Interface Science, vol. 166. pp. 1–7.
[2] McFadzean, B., Marozva, T., Wiese, J., (2016).
Flotation frother mixtures: Decoupling the sub-pro-
cesses of froth stability, froth recovery and entrain-
ment, Minerals Engineering, Volume 85, Pages
72–79, ISSN 0892-6875.
[3] Jera, Tawona M., and Clayton Bhondayi. (2021). “A
Review of Flotation Physical Froth Flow Modifiers”
Minerals 11, no. 8: 864.
[4] Neethling, S.J. Brito-Parada, P.R. (2018). Predicting
Flotation Behaviour The Interaction between Froth
Stability and Performance. Miner. Eng. 120, 60–65.
[5] Moyo, P., (2005). Characterization of frothers by
water carrying rate. MSc. Thesis partial fullfil-
ment. Department of Mining, Metals and Materials
Engineering, McGill University Montreal, Canada.
[6] Bikerman, J.J., (1938). The unit of foaminess. Trans.
Faraday Society 34: 634–638.
[7] Sun, S.C., (1952). Frothing characteristics of Pine
oils in flotation. Trans. AIME 256: 65–71,.
[8] Malysa, K., Czubak-Pawlikowska, J. and
Pomianowski, A., (1976). Frothing properties of solu-
tions and their influence on floatability. Proceedings
of 7th International Congress of Surface Active
Substances, Moscow, Vol 3: 513–520.
[9] Barbian, N., (2003). Froth stability and flotation per-
formance. PhD thesis, UMIST, UK.
[10] Barbian, N., Ventura-Medina, E., Cilliers J.J., (2003).
Dynamic froth stability in froth flotation. Minerals
Engineering 16: 1111–1116.Watkins, R.C., (1973).
An improved foam test for lubricating oils. Journal of
the Institute of Petroleum 59 (567): 106–113.
[11] Iglesias, E., Anderez, J., Forgiarini, A., Salager, J-L.,
(1995). A new method to estimate the stability of
short‑1ife foams. Coll. &Surf. 98A: 167–174.
[12] McLaughlin, J.D., Quinn, P., Robertson, G., Agar,
G.E., (1993). Frother evaluation. 18th International
Mineral Processing Congress. Sydney, Australia
23–28 May:637–641.
[13] Xu, M., Finch, J.A., Uribe-Salas, A., (1991).
Maximum gas and bubble surface rates in flotation
columns. International Journal of Mineral Processing
32: 233–250.
[14] Barbian, N., Hadler, K., Ventura-
Medina,E. and Cilliers,J.J., (2005). The froth stability
column: linking froth stability and flotation perfor-
mance. Minerals Engineering, 18 (3). pp. 317–324.
ISSN 0892-6875.
[15] Khoshdast, H., Hassanzadeh, A., Kowalczuk, P. B., &
Farrokhpay, S. (2022). Characterization Techniques
of Flotation Frothers -A Review. Mineral Processing
and Extractive Metallurgy Review, 44(2), 77–101.
[16] Corin, K.C., Reddy, A., Miyen, L., Wiese, J.G.,
Harris, P.J. (2011). The effect of ionic strength of
plant water on valuable mineral and gangue recovery
in a platinum bearing ore from the Merensky reef.
Minerals Engineering, 24, 131–137.
[17] Farrokhpay, S., and M. Zanin. (2012a). An investi-
gation into the effect of water quality on froth sta-
bility. Advanced Powder Technology 23:493–97.
doi:10.1016/j.apt.2012.04.012.
[18] Corin, K. C., and Wiese, J. G. (2014). Investigating
froth stability: A comparative study of ionic
strength and frother dosage. Minerals Engineering
66–68:130–34.
[19] Farrokhpay, S., and Zanin, M. (2012b). Synergic
effect of collector and frother on froth stability and
flotation recovery – An industrial case. 11th AusIMM
Mill Operator’s Conference, 29–31, Carlton,
Australia, 145–50.
[20] Karakashev, S.I., Grozev, N.A., Ozdemir, O.,
Batjargal, K., Ata,O.G.S., Bournival, G., Boylu, F.,
Çelik, M.S. (2021). On the frother’s strength and its
performance, Minerals Engineering, Volume 171,
107093, ISSN 0892-6875, https://doi.org/10.1016
/j.mineng.2021.107093.
[21] Bulatovic, S.M., (2010). Handbook of Flotation
Reagents: Chemistry, Theory and Practice. 10.1016/
C2009-0-17331-2, pp 57.
CONCLUSIONS
Using Senfroth 200 as the industry baseline, remarkable
flotation kinetic increases were observed with AECI Mining
Chemicals developed frothers in the first concentrate. Even
in the worst-case scenarios, 4E PGM recovery increased by
more than 5% at a slightly higher concentrate grade.
The results produced by formulating and innovating
frothers to address specific industry challenges have been
encouraging. Frothers can be specialized blends and should
not be underestimated. Testing a frother on a plant scale
does not have to be as daunting as with collectors, enabling
the identification of the best frother-collector combina-
tions at an industrial scale. AECI Mining Chemicals bench
scale test work motivated plant-scale trials that have suc-
cessfully transitioned to commercialization. AECI Mining
Chemicals believes that the methodology described in this
paper is a better way to screen frothers for the industry.
REFERENCES
[1] Farrokhpay, S. (2011). The significance of froth sta-
bility in mineral flotation -A review. Advances in
Colloid and Interface Science, vol. 166. pp. 1–7.
[2] McFadzean, B., Marozva, T., Wiese, J., (2016).
Flotation frother mixtures: Decoupling the sub-pro-
cesses of froth stability, froth recovery and entrain-
ment, Minerals Engineering, Volume 85, Pages
72–79, ISSN 0892-6875.
[3] Jera, Tawona M., and Clayton Bhondayi. (2021). “A
Review of Flotation Physical Froth Flow Modifiers”
Minerals 11, no. 8: 864.
[4] Neethling, S.J. Brito-Parada, P.R. (2018). Predicting
Flotation Behaviour The Interaction between Froth
Stability and Performance. Miner. Eng. 120, 60–65.
[5] Moyo, P., (2005). Characterization of frothers by
water carrying rate. MSc. Thesis partial fullfil-
ment. Department of Mining, Metals and Materials
Engineering, McGill University Montreal, Canada.
[6] Bikerman, J.J., (1938). The unit of foaminess. Trans.
Faraday Society 34: 634–638.
[7] Sun, S.C., (1952). Frothing characteristics of Pine
oils in flotation. Trans. AIME 256: 65–71,.
[8] Malysa, K., Czubak-Pawlikowska, J. and
Pomianowski, A., (1976). Frothing properties of solu-
tions and their influence on floatability. Proceedings
of 7th International Congress of Surface Active
Substances, Moscow, Vol 3: 513–520.
[9] Barbian, N., (2003). Froth stability and flotation per-
formance. PhD thesis, UMIST, UK.
[10] Barbian, N., Ventura-Medina, E., Cilliers J.J., (2003).
Dynamic froth stability in froth flotation. Minerals
Engineering 16: 1111–1116.Watkins, R.C., (1973).
An improved foam test for lubricating oils. Journal of
the Institute of Petroleum 59 (567): 106–113.
[11] Iglesias, E., Anderez, J., Forgiarini, A., Salager, J-L.,
(1995). A new method to estimate the stability of
short‑1ife foams. Coll. &Surf. 98A: 167–174.
[12] McLaughlin, J.D., Quinn, P., Robertson, G., Agar,
G.E., (1993). Frother evaluation. 18th International
Mineral Processing Congress. Sydney, Australia
23–28 May:637–641.
[13] Xu, M., Finch, J.A., Uribe-Salas, A., (1991).
Maximum gas and bubble surface rates in flotation
columns. International Journal of Mineral Processing
32: 233–250.
[14] Barbian, N., Hadler, K., Ventura-
Medina,E. and Cilliers,J.J., (2005). The froth stability
column: linking froth stability and flotation perfor-
mance. Minerals Engineering, 18 (3). pp. 317–324.
ISSN 0892-6875.
[15] Khoshdast, H., Hassanzadeh, A., Kowalczuk, P. B., &
Farrokhpay, S. (2022). Characterization Techniques
of Flotation Frothers -A Review. Mineral Processing
and Extractive Metallurgy Review, 44(2), 77–101.
[16] Corin, K.C., Reddy, A., Miyen, L., Wiese, J.G.,
Harris, P.J. (2011). The effect of ionic strength of
plant water on valuable mineral and gangue recovery
in a platinum bearing ore from the Merensky reef.
Minerals Engineering, 24, 131–137.
[17] Farrokhpay, S., and M. Zanin. (2012a). An investi-
gation into the effect of water quality on froth sta-
bility. Advanced Powder Technology 23:493–97.
doi:10.1016/j.apt.2012.04.012.
[18] Corin, K. C., and Wiese, J. G. (2014). Investigating
froth stability: A comparative study of ionic
strength and frother dosage. Minerals Engineering
66–68:130–34.
[19] Farrokhpay, S., and Zanin, M. (2012b). Synergic
effect of collector and frother on froth stability and
flotation recovery – An industrial case. 11th AusIMM
Mill Operator’s Conference, 29–31, Carlton,
Australia, 145–50.
[20] Karakashev, S.I., Grozev, N.A., Ozdemir, O.,
Batjargal, K., Ata,O.G.S., Bournival, G., Boylu, F.,
Çelik, M.S. (2021). On the frother’s strength and its
performance, Minerals Engineering, Volume 171,
107093, ISSN 0892-6875, https://doi.org/10.1016
/j.mineng.2021.107093.
[21] Bulatovic, S.M., (2010). Handbook of Flotation
Reagents: Chemistry, Theory and Practice. 10.1016/
C2009-0-17331-2, pp 57.