Introduction - The challenge offinding the right frother

The frother plays a critical role in the flotation ofprecious and base metal sulfide ores. Its mainfunction is to stabilize the bubbles that transportthe hydrophobic value minerals to the surfacefroth zone where they can be easily collected.

It is vital that your selected frother work in unisonwith your plant configuration and reagent scheme(promoters or collectors, and modifiers). The cor-rect froth bed leads to a better grade of recoveredvalue minerals, improves plant kinetics, and givesoperators better control of the flotation circuit.

A frother’s unique characteristic of strengtheningthe mineral laden bubbles allows them to coalescewithout rupturing, hence forming the froth zone.Some additional characteristics that are importantwhen choosing a frother:

• It must permit sufficient froth liquid drainage sothat entrained gangue minerals can be “washedout.”

• It must provide good froth mobility to transportthe mineral particles to the lip of the flotationcell and then into the launder.

• It must be soluble or dispersible in water toallow even bubble coverage.

• The froth zone must not collapse before thevalue minerals can be recovered, yet must besufficiently transient so that the bubbles canbreak down and re-form later if desired.

• It must be stable enough to carry the weight ofthe minerals, but not so stable that it survivesbeyond the launder and sumps.

• It must match your mineral processing objec-tives.

Other factors like the quality of ores, flotationprocess, and water chemistry affect the perform-ance of froth in different ways from one concen-trator to another or even within the same concen-trator. This makes the task of selecting the correctfrother for your application more challenging.

How Cytec helps you

Cytec understands the challenges. Whether yourgoal is to increase grade, kinetics, or yield, Cytecworks with your staff to provide the frother thatbest meets your needs.

Cytec’s team starts by evaluating your frothflotation circuit, studying details such as:

• Plant configuration• Ore mineralogy, gangue associations• Froth persistence• pH• Froth liquid drainage• Kinetics• Frother/collector interaction• Downstream effects

When recommending a solution, Cytec choosesfrom over 50 alcohol and glycol frothers. Cytec’sengineers and scientists work with you to developa frother formulation that is optimized for yourplant, and results in:

• Improved recovery of value minerals• Better separation of gangue• Richer grade• Reduced consumption of collectors and otherreagents

• Lowered costs• Greater control of the flotation circuit

Frothers

P R O G R A M P R O F I L E Mineral Processing

www.cytec.com

The chart on the following page shows a sampleof Cytec’s full line of frothers. The AEROFROTH®

frothers and OREPREP® frothers listed have asufficiently wide range of applicability to fulfillany flotation requirement. (The recommendedapplications for selected frothers are based on fieldexperience and should be used only as a guide.)

Your Cytec representative will be glad to furtheradvise you on selecting frothers for testing.

Benefits of buying from Cytec

As a Cytec customer, you have Cytec’s worldwidetechnical experts working for you. For more than90 years, Cytec has supplied reagents to, andworked on-site at, thousands of mines operatingunder varying conditions in every corner of theglobe. As a result, the company has built anunequaled body of knowledge about miningreagents and how they work together to bringvalue to the mine owner.

Cytec is constantly innovating, testing, anddiscovering new methods to maximize frotherefficiency. Cytec can help to improve your frothflotation yield and mineral recovery.

In addition to the products described in thisprofile, Cytec is continuously developing newsolutions to meet changing needs. Your Cytecrepresentative is ready to work with you toaddress your needs and meet your goals.

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Applications of Cytec’s Frothers

Frother Primary Use Relative FrotherStrength Recommended

Application/Qualitiesof FrotherConventional

flotationColumnflotation

Kineticsaccelerator

Coarseparticles

Mediumparticles

Fineparticles

Low Medium Strong

OREPREP® frothers

F-501 • • • • Provides fast kinetics and low consumptionin metallic sulfide flotation circuits; rapidflotation of minerals in the first bank ofconventional rougher flotation circuits

F-507 • • • Flotation of coarse particles at high pH;tolerates different ore types and pH

F-515 • • • • Increases kinetics and maintains a strengthequal to or less than that of OREPREP F-507frother; replaces OREPREP F-507 frotherwhen feed rate and presence of coarseparticles exceed plant design

F-521 • • • • Lower consumption, improved longevityin the rougher float row, and higher pHtolerance than conventional alcohol frothers;no loss of operating control

F-531 • •F-533 • • • • Formulated for specific customers; stronger

than OREPREP F-521 frother in high pHsystems, yet not as strong as OREPREP F-523frother when 100% of process water isrecycled

F-535 • • • •F-547 • • • •F-549 • • • • Exhibits the “strength versus selectivity”

properties of an alcohol joined with apolygly-col; used when alcohols are not persistentenough and polyglycols are too persistent

F-569 • •F-579 • • •F-581 • •F-585 • • • •F-591 • • • • •F-593 • • • • •F-597 • • • • •X-133 • • • • •X-260 • • •AEROFROTH® frothers

65 • • • Hard-to-froth flotation circuits; lowconsumption; exhibits strength and longevity

70 • • • • Feed containing an above-normal percentageof fines; often used in coal, lead sulfide, andgraphite flotation at neutral to slightlyalkaline circuits

76A • • • • Wide range of utility; more stable and persist-ent than MIBC or AEROFROTH 70 frother

88 • • • • Coal and industrial minerals flotation,especially where clays and other slimeminerals are present

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Cytec Industries Inc. in its own name and on behalf of its affiliated companies (collectively, "Cytec") decline any liability with respect to theuse made by anyone of the information contained herein. The information contained herein represents Cytec's best knowledge thereon with-out constituting any express or implied guarantee or warranty of any kind (including, but not limited to, regarding the accuracy, the com-pleteness or relevance of the data set out herein). Cytec is the sole owner or authorized user of the intellectual property rights relating tothe information communicated. The information relating to the use of the products is given for information purposes only. No guarantee orwarranty is provided that the product is adapted for any specific use. The user or purchaser should perform its own tests to determine thesuitability for a particular purpose. The final choice of use of a product remains the sole responsibility of the user.

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• Email: custinfo@cytec.com Worldwide Contact Info: www.cytec.com US Toll Free 800-652-6013 Tel 973-357-3193 •