Glossary
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Anionic flotation reagents are negatively charged collectors of various Cx basis and various molecular weights generally used for flotation of gangue minerals, such as iron and aluminum from sand or as a primary collector in phosphate flotation. The type of anionic collector used is based on the ore body being processed. Each of these products is custom manufactured for specific ore bodies and flotation process conditions.
Anti-caking agents prevent the caking and pile set of granular substances.
Cationic flotation reagents are used in the flotation of sand (silica) which may be used to increase the concentration of the respective ore. In general, these are amine-based compounds, which are particularly selective for silicates. Each of these products is custom manufactured for specific ore bodies and flotation process conditions.
Coating agents are often used on phosphate, potash, nitrogen, NPK and bio-solid fertilizers to reduce dust, caking and pile set, even after multiple product transfers.
Coloring agents are used to create a uniform color or a different color altogether on fertilizer granules.
Defoamers are chemical additives that impedes the formation of foam. They are used in wet process phosphoric acid production reactors and in granular fertilizer production equipment.
Flocculants are used to clean flotation process water to reduce reagent consumption and improve recovery. They are also employed to treat discharge water so that stringent environmental standards can be met.
Frothers are used to improve bubble formation during flotation. The right frother will improve recovery rates and increase selectivity dramatically.
Granulation aids promote rapid and uniform granule formation, which are critical factors in the efficient production of quality fertilizers.
Polymers are process aids that aid beneficiation systems by targeting plant bottlenecks and process limitations. Clarification, thickening and filtration are all critical process steps within mineral processing that can be positively impacted by process-specific polymer applications. Polymer applications generally target areas to increase plant throughput and efficiency.
Promoters are materials which, when added to a flotation system, enhance the attachment of the primary collector to the desired mineral to be recovered. Promoters, when used in conjunction with a collector, have shown to improve recoveries, concentrate grades, and enhance flotation kinetics. Promoter technology experiments are routinely explored in conjunction with standard flotation regents in an effort to discover increased recovery, selectivity and yield benefits.
Surfactants, or surface active agents, are chemicals that preferentially adsorb onto the interfaces of the different phases present in a particle system. The actual chemical structure of a surfactant that is optimal for a given particle system depends on the nature of the continuous phase, the nature of the interface(s) in the system, and the conditions of use. Surfactants significantly reduce the surface tension or interfacial free energy between phases.