FLOTATION
Syensqo Transfoamer frothers are based on a novel technology that changes froth strength in response to pH, leading to more efficient copper recovery
they’ re getting from their plant so that we can provide more effective technical service for the plant. It is also helping us automate that analysis to a greater degree.” InSYght is still in development but will be rolled out with some key customer locations in the next 12-18 months.
In terms of Syensqo Cube, as this is based on trials, it is much more flexible but still has an importance role, as this type of analysis work is much easier at a demo or lab scale than in the dynamic nature of a working process plant. Cramer:“ The value of the Cube means we are no longer limiting ourselves to one formula or two formulas that we’ ve developed in the lab around initial ore testing. We are able to take into account variable plant conditions and make corresponding formulation adjustments, understanding how we can optimise parameters in the real plant to roll out a more effective, more robust reagent solution for the customer. It is also relatively portable – consisting of small pump units – so we have it running in different mining regions and are able to move it between different customers in those regions as required.”
Syensqo has another important element to its digital reagent formulation toolbox – MINCHEM™, an advanced modelling tool designed for optimising solvent extraction operations. It enables mines to simulate circuit parameters and reagent requirements in a matter of seconds, facilitating faster optimisation of existing plants and quicker start-ups of new plants. Cramer:“ This is an advanced engine for solvent extraction circuits. We can analyse how a plant is performing versus expectations to build recommendations, but we can also model different configuration conditions for reagents to evaluate what-if scenarios.”
MINCHEM™ was specifically designed for solvent extraction operations focused on copper modelling with ACORGA extractants. Its main objective is to optimise existing circuits or evaluate future circuit conditions. With a long legacy dating back to its first release in the 1980s, MINCHEM™ has been a trusted tool in the mining industry for decades. In 2018, MINCHEM™ was upgraded to become the advanced modelling tool behind SolvExtract. MINCHEM™ + extended the capabilities of MINCHEM™ beyond copper, using CYANEX and DEHPA modelling to support the design of new
mines and more complex SX circuits for battery metals. These capabilities have been further enhanced via a full redesign to allow computation of reagent requirements and plant parameters in a matter of seconds or minutes.
With a number of new flotation cell innovations appearing – this month’ s coverage of Metso’ s new Sampo coarse particle flotation cell being a case in point – IM also discussed the development of specific reagents for this part of the market. Esau Arinaitwe, Mineral Processing R & I Manager at Syensqo commented:“ The flotation equipment industry, once dominated by conventional mechanical cells, is increasingly embracing more specialised devices that operate in new hydrodynamic regimes engineered to overcome the physical limitations of poor fine and coarse particle recovery. In our experience working with these new devices, we have observed that flotation reagents need to be tailored to the new operating regimes in order to obtain step-change improvements in overall process performance. Thus, in parallel with advances in flotation equipment, we are developing next-generation reagent technologies specifically designed to improve recovery of ultrafine, fine, and coarse particles by optimising the surface chemistry aspects of sub-processes that are critical to maximising performance of the new devices. We are currently advancing scale-up trials for new AERO ® collector formulations designed to address these challenges, while continuing to rollout our TRANSFOAMER™ frother technologies to promote coarse particle recovery and overall metal recovery without adversely impacting downstream operations.”
As an example, at a copper-moly operation in the southwest US, implementation of TRANSFOAMER™ T-200 frother resulted in increased rougher mass pull which improved overall metallurgical recovery while mitigating downstream overfrothing that had historically constrained plant performance.
International Mining | OCTOBER 2026