AkzoNobel will present a paper at the International Mineral Processing Conference (IMPC 2016) proving formulations for reverse flotation of phosphate from sedimentary ores by removing carbonates and silicates. In addition, it will showcase its extensive range of optimized flotation collectors and technologies. IMPC 2016, will take place Sept. 11 to Sept. 15 at the Quebec City Convention Center, Quebec, Canada.

“To fulfil customers’ challenging requirements, we are focusing on developing sustainable solutions for the mining industry,” said Natalija Smolko, Global R&D Focal Point for Mining at AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry. “By ’sustainable solutions’ we mean the environmental profile of the surfactants and the improved efficiency and selectivity of the collectors.” Ms. Smolko will present her paper, New Formulations for Reverse Flotation of Phosphate from Sedimentary Ores.

AkzoNobel’s portfolio of innovative chemical solutions for mining is a result of more than 50 years of research and development in molecular and surface chemistry, combined with close collaboration with customers and in-depth field experience. The company’s flotation collectors provide optimized solutions for phosphate, calcite, iron, potash, niobium, silicates, graphite, and other minerals.

AkzoNobel builds on its chemistry and process know-how to customize solutions for each individual ore. “We select the best collector based on three principals,” said Anders Hägg, Global Marketing & Sales Director. “First, we consider every ore to be unique; second, every ore is treated in a unique process; and third, customized collectors optimize process performance.”

Other new AkzoNobel flotation collectors are a new reagent for iron ore flotation, Lilaflot® 821M, that provides similar performance and is at least 20% more efficient than the benchmark collector, and Atrac 2600 a new, more efficient, anionic collector for direct flotation of phosphate ores.

For complex phosphate ores, for example, where carbonate minerals are present, it has been difficult to produce high-quality phosphate concentrates. “Traditional fatty acid collectors not only float the calcium mineral apatite but also the other calcium minerals, calcite and dolomite,” explained Kerim Sasioglu, Global Marketing Manager. “Our collectors float selectively the apatite.”

Sasioglu also emphasized additional solutions AkzoNobel provides the mining industry:

• Expancel® microspheres are used extensively as sensitizers in industrial explosives. They create consistent uniform voids within the explosives that balance density control with such blasting properties as sensitivity to detonation, strength and explosive stability
• Depramin® and Peridur® grades, based on carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC), meet the demands of froth flotation and agglomeration of fines
• Sodium Hydrosulphide (NaSH) is widely used as an efficient copper depressant and ores sulphidizing agent.