Efficient Defoaming Solution: Improving Flotation Efficiency and Concentrate Quality

Excessive foam is a common challenge in mineral processing flotation operations. Overflowing foam occupies effective tank volume, leading to slurry overflow and loss of valuable concentrate. Overly stable foam hinders impurity separation, impacting concentrate grade. Additionally, foam carrying reagents results in chemical waste and increased production costs. These issues directly constrain flotation efficiency and overall economic returns.

Chemi Tech addresses these problems with its specialized series of flotation defoamers. Designed with unique molecular structures, these products rapidly penetrate foam lamellae, reduce local surface tension, and promote bubble coalescence and rupture. Their components exhibit good compatibility with common flotation reagents, ensuring they do not interfere with existing collector and depressant functions, thereby balancing effective defoaming with process stability.

The solution involves a three-step approach. First, our technical team conducts an on-site diagnosis to identify the root causes of foam, analyzing slurry properties, reagent regimes, and process parameters. Second, based on the assessment, we recommend a suitable defoamer product and optimal initial injection points, typically at the pre-flotation stage or where foam accumulates. Finally, we provide guidance on dosage optimization, conducting bench-scale tests to determine the most cost-effective dosing rate for efficient defoaming.

A metal ore processing plant previously struggled with severe foam overflow in the roughing flotation stage. After evaluation by a Chemi Tech engineer, CT-305 defoamer was selected and continuously dosed at a ratio of 0.03% at the conditioning tank. Within one week of implementation, the flotation cell level stabilized, foam layer thickness was reduced by approximately 60%, and effective volume utilization improved. Consequently, the monthly concentrate recovery increased by about 2.3 percentage points, with no adverse impact on subsequent cleaning operations. This case demonstrates the tangible improvement in production indicators achievable with a targeted defoaming strategy.

Choosing Chemi Tech means acquiring not just a product, but comprehensive technical support spanning from problem diagnosis to ongoing optimization. We are committed to helping mineral processing plants overcome foam-related challenges, enabling smoother, more efficient, and cost-effective flotation production.