Revolutionizing Coarse Particle Flotation Part II—Enhancing Separation Performance with Novel Chemistry

The development of HydroFloat™ technology marks a significant milestone in the mineral processing industry, especially for coarse particle flotation by shifting the limits often referred to as the “Elephant Curve.” This innovative technology has transformed mineral separation, enabling more efficient recovery of valuable minerals from coarser ore particles. However, the full potential of HydroFloat™ is yet to be realized. A crucial aspect of its success lies in the chemical foundations of the flotation process, particularly the types of collectors used and their adsorption kinetics. Optimizing these chemical interactions can significantly enhance this revolutionary technology. In this context, the role of dithiocarbonate (DTC) and dithiophosphate (DTP) collectors, traditionally used to improve the flotation performance of sulfide minerals, is paramount. Innovations in these flotation chemicals hold great promise for further advancements in coarse particle flotation. This article explores the new frontiers of flotation chemistry for coarse particle recovery by testing eight different commercial and novel dithiocarbonate (DTC) and dithiophosphate (DTP) collectors with varying carbon chain lengths and structures. Presently, higher recoveries were achieved by experimental collector 11250, a DTC derivative, AERO350, a PAX derivative, and AERO3501, a commercial generic DTP widely used in sulfide flotation.