Flotation Frothers

Flotation frothers are surfactants that control bubble size and froth stability in a flotation cell, so mineral-laden bubbles form, rise, and carry concentrate into the launder without collapsing or over-stabilizing. Unlike collectors, frothers do not make minerals hydrophobic; they manage the air/water interface. Choose the frother by the froth behavior you need, then set dose by froth depth and texture rather than a fixed concentration.

Methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC) is the most widely used alcohol frother. It produces a relatively brittle, fast-breaking froth that drains gangue well and is easy to control, which is why it is the default for many sulfide circuits. The trade-off: that brittle froth has less carrying capacity than a stronger frother, so coarse or high-mass loads can drop back. Dose MIBC to the froth, not to a fixed ppm.

Polypropylene glycol (PPG) and other polyglycol frothers give a more stable, higher-carrying froth that holds coarse particles and tolerates variable feed. The cost is selectivity: a persistent froth can pull more gangue and is harder to break in downstream cleaning. Many plants blend an alcohol frother with a polyglycol to tune froth strength to the ore. Start from a single frother and add the second only when the froth needs more stability.

• Sulfide mineral flotation requiring controllable, fast-draining froth (MIBC)
• Coarse-particle and high-mass flotation needing higher froth carrying capacity (polyglycol frothers)
• Frother blending to tune froth stability to variable or changing ore feed
• Rougher, scavenger, and cleaner stages with stage-specific froth requirements
• Circuits where selective gangue rejection depends on a brittle, well-draining froth

• MIBC (4-methyl-2-pentanol) — PubChem
• Polypropylene glycol — PubChem