Featured product
The frother that sets the standard everything else is measured against.
Frother selection is the adjustment a metallurgist reaches for first, because it changes froth behavior without disturbing the collector chemistry underneath it.
Featured Product
MIBC
Methyl isobutyl carbinol · 4-methyl-2-pentanol · CAS 108-11-2 · C6H14O
MIBC is the reference frother in mineral flotation. It is a C6 branched alcohol that generates a selective, relatively brittle froth with low persistence, and that low persistence is the whole point. The froth holds long enough to carry loaded bubbles to the launder, then breaks down instead of following the concentrate into the thickener and fouling everything downstream.
The property that explains its behavior is the asymmetry in its water solubility. Roughly 1.7 percent MIBC dissolves in water, while water dissolves into MIBC at around 5.8 percent. It is soluble enough to disperse through the pulp and insoluble enough to concentrate at the air and water interface, which is exactly where a frother has to be.
Most circuits do not run it alone. Blending MIBC with polyglycol frothers is the standard way to move froth strength and persistence toward the ore without touching the collector suite, which is a far less disruptive adjustment than changing collectors.
- Molecular weight
- 102.2 g/mol
- Appearance
- Colorless liquid
- Boiling point
- 131.7 C
- Flash point, closed cup
- 40.5 C
- Density at 20 C
- 0.81 kg/L
- Evaporation rate
- 0.28 (nBuAc = 1)
- MIBC in water
- 1.7 percent
- Water in MIBC
- 5.8 percent
- Freezing point
- -90 C
Where MIBC is used
Copper and polymetallic flotationThe default frother across sulfide circuits, selected for grade selectivity rather than maximum recovery.
Coal flotationFine coal recovery, where froth that breaks cleanly matters for downstream dewatering.
Molybdenum circuitsSelective froth character in copper moly separation, where grade penalties are severe.
Lube additive synthesisFeedstock in zinc dialkyldithiophosphate production for anti-wear and anti-corrosion additives.
Solvents and coatingsSlow evaporating alcohol solvent in coatings, inks, and fine chemical synthesis.
Brake fluids and fine chemistryIntermediate and formulation component outside the mining market entirely.
Walk the flowsheet
Pick a circuit. Then pick a step.
Five flowsheets, 32 steps between them. Each one names what is happening at that point, what goes wrong there, and the reagents that address it. The flotation circuit carries the most reagent decisions, and the frother step is marked on the rail.
Select a step to see the reagents. Arrow keys move forward and back through the flowsheet.
Step 1 of 5 · Crushing and Grinding
Crushing & material handling
Breaking run of mine rock down to a size the mill can accept. Almost entirely mechanical, with chemistry doing one job: keeping the dust down.
What goes wrong hereRespirable dust at transfer points and crusher discharge, which is an exposure limit problem long before it is a housekeeping problem.
What gets used and why
- Magnesium chlorideHygroscopic dust suppressant holding moisture in the surface layer through dry weather.
- Calcium chlorideStronger moisture attraction where humidity is low and roads are heavily trafficked.
- LignosulfonateBinder based suppression without the chloride corrosion penalty on equipment.
- Surfactant wetting agentsMake water actually wet fine dry rock dust instead of beading off it.
- Polymer emulsionsCrust forming treatment on stockpiles and inactive surfaces.
5 reagents at this step
Step 2 of 5 · Crushing and Grinding
Grinding & milling
The single largest energy consumer on the site. Every percent of grinding efficiency is a direct power bill reduction.
What goes wrong hereSlurry that thickens in the mill, coating media and liners, cutting throughput and driving specific energy consumption up.
What gets used and why
- Glycol based grinding aidsReduce particle agglomeration so ground material clears the mill instead of recirculating.
- Triethanolamine and amine blendsSurface active agents improving mill throughput at low addition rates.
- Polyacrylate dispersantsSlurry viscosity control at high solids density.
- Corrosion inhibitorsProtect grinding media and mill internals, since media consumption is a major consumable cost.
- AntiscalantsPrevent hardness scale in mill water and cyclone circuits.
5 reagents at this step
Step 3 of 5 · Crushing and Grinding
Slurry rheology & pumping
Moving high solids slurry through pipelines and cyclones, where viscosity determines both pump power and classification accuracy.
What goes wrong hereA slurry that goes non-Newtonian at the density the flowsheet needs, so the plant runs thinner, uses more water, and loses classification efficiency.
What gets used and why
- Sodium polyacrylateDeflocculates fines and drops apparent viscosity at high solids.
- LignosulfonateLower cost dispersion where polyacrylate is more than the duty requires.
- Sodium hexametaphosphateDispersion plus sequestration of hardness that would otherwise flocculate the slurry.
- AntiscalantsGypsum and carbonate scale control in pipelines and cyclone feed.
4 reagents at this step
Step 4 of 5 · Crushing and Grinding
Classification & sizing
Cyclones and screens separating material that is ground enough from material that needs another pass.
What goes wrong hereMisclassification sending fines to the mill and coarse material to flotation, which wastes energy at one end and loses recovery at the other.
What gets used and why
- DispersantsPrevent fine particle agglomeration that reads as coarse material to a cyclone.
- DefoamersEntrained air control in cyclone feed sumps, which distorts density readings.
- Viscosity modifiersHold cyclone feed rheology inside the range the separation was designed for.
3 reagents at this step
Step 5 of 5 · Crushing and Grinding
Process water conditioning
Mines recycle water aggressively, and every cycle concentrates whatever the last cycle left behind.
What goes wrong hereRecycled water carrying residual reagent, dissolved salts, and hardness that quietly changes flotation chemistry from one shift to the next.
What gets used and why
- LimePrimary pH control and hardness precipitation, bought in the largest tonnage of any reagent on most sites.
- Soda ashAlkalinity and pH modification where lime chemistry interferes with the flotation system.
- Sulfuric acidpH depression in circuits requiring acidic conditions.
- AntiscalantsControl gypsum and carbonate scaling in recycled water systems.
- BiocidesBiological control in process water ponds and distribution.
- CoagulantsSuspended solids removal from reclaim water before it re-enters the circuit.
6 reagents at this step
Select a step to see the reagents. Arrow keys move forward and back through the flowsheet.
Step 1 of 8 · Flotation Circuit
Conditioning & pH modification
Setting the pulp chemistry before any collector goes in. pH is the master variable in flotation, and everything downstream assumes it is right.
What goes wrong hereA pH drift of half a point changing which minerals float and which do not, with the assay telling you hours later.
What gets used and why
- LimeThe workhorse pH modifier, and simultaneously a pyrite depressant, which is why it is the default in sulfide circuits.
- Soda ashAlkalinity where calcium ions from lime would interfere with the collector or the mineral surface.
- Sodium hydroxideFast, clean pH adjustment with no added calcium or carbonate.
- Sulfuric acidpH depression for circuits floating at acidic conditions.
- Sodium carbonateDispersion and pH control in industrial mineral and phosphate circuits.
5 reagents at this step
Step 2 of 8 · Flotation Circuit
Collectors
The reagent that makes the target mineral hydrophobic so a bubble will pick it up. Everything else in the circuit supports this step.
What goes wrong hereA collector that is too strong or not selective enough, pulling gangue into the concentrate and dropping grade below the smelter contract.
What gets used and why
- XanthatesSodium and potassium isopropyl, amyl, and ethyl grades. The primary sulfide collector family, chosen by chain length for strength versus selectivity.
- DithiophosphatesSelective sulfide collectors with useful frothing character, often paired with xanthate rather than replacing it.
- ThionocarbamatesHighly selective copper collectors where pyrite rejection matters more than raw recovery.
- Fatty acids and tall oilOxide and industrial mineral collection, including phosphate, fluorspar, and iron ore.
- Ether aminesReverse silica flotation in iron ore, floating the gangue rather than the value.
- Petroleum sulfonates and hydroxamatesSpecialty collection on oxides, rare earths, and difficult mineralogy.
6 reagents at this step
Step 3 of 8 · Flotation Circuit
Frothers
The reagent that creates and stabilizes the bubbles doing the actual work. Collector decides what floats. Frother decides whether it makes it to the launder.
What goes wrong hereA froth that is too persistent carries gangue into the concentrate and refuses to break in the thickener. Too brittle and loaded bubbles collapse before they report to the launder.
What gets used and why
- MIBC (methyl isobutyl carbinol)The reference frother across copper, polymetallic, and coal flotation. CAS 108-11-2. A C6 branched alcohol that produces a selective, relatively brittle froth with low persistence, which is exactly why it gives clean concentrate grade. It breaks down readily downstream instead of following the concentrate into the thickener.
- Polyglycol frothersPolypropylene glycol based frothers producing a stronger, more persistent froth with better fine particle recovery, at some cost in selectivity.
- MIBC and glycol blendsThe practical middle ground. Blending tunes froth strength and persistence to the ore without changing the collector suite.
- Pine oil and cresylic acidTraditional natural frothers with collecting character of their own, still used where the mineralogy suits them.
- C6 to C8 alcohol blendsAlcohol frother alternatives and MIBC rich co-product streams offering a different cost position.
5 reagents at this step
Step 4 of 8 · Flotation Circuit
Depressants & modifiers
Keeping unwanted minerals from floating. In a polymetallic circuit this is what turns one concentrate into three saleable products.
What goes wrong herePyrite reporting to a copper concentrate, or talc floating on its natural hydrophobicity, both of which are grade penalties at the smelter.
What gets used and why
- LimePyrite depression through high pH, the most widely used depressant in sulfide flotation.
- Sodium metabisulfiteSphalerite and pyrite depression in differential copper lead zinc separation.
- Sodium silicateSilica and silicate gangue dispersion and depression across many circuits.
- Carboxymethyl cellulose and guarTalc and naturally floating gangue depression, critical in platinum group and some copper ores.
- Starch and dextrinIron oxide depression in reverse flotation and organic depression in industrial minerals.
- Zinc sulfateSphalerite depression during the copper and lead stages of a sequential circuit.
- Cyanide based depressantsPyrite and sphalerite depression in specific sulfide separations, used under strict site controls.
7 reagents at this step
Step 5 of 8 · Flotation Circuit
Activators
Chemically preparing a mineral surface so the collector can attach to it, which is the opposite job to depression.
What goes wrong hereSphalerite that will not float because zinc sulfide does not respond to xanthate on its own, so the zinc simply reports to tailings.
What gets used and why
- Copper sulfateSphalerite activation, exchanging copper onto the zinc sulfide surface so xanthate can adsorb. The classic activation step in zinc circuits.
- Sodium sulfide and hydrosulfideSulfidization of oxide copper and lead minerals, converting the surface to something a sulfide collector recognizes.
- Lead nitrateSurface activation in specific gold and polymetallic applications.
- Sulfuric acidSurface cleaning and activation in oxide and mixed ore circuits.
4 reagents at this step
Step 6 of 8 · Flotation Circuit
Cell & column operation
Mechanical cells and flotation columns, where reagent chemistry meets hydrodynamics and the two have to agree.
What goes wrong hereFroth crowding, launder overflow, or a column that loses its froth zone, all of which show up as recovery loss rather than as an equipment fault.
What gets used and why
- Frother trim additionStage dosing along the bank, since frother is consumed and froth character changes down the row.
- Wash water treatmentColumn wash water quality, which directly affects concentrate grade.
- DefoamersDownstream foam control where persistent froth follows concentrate into thickeners and filters.
- AntiscalantsScale control on cell internals and air spargers in hard recycled water.
4 reagents at this step
Step 7 of 8 · Flotation Circuit
Reagent blending & dosing
The reagent shed, where products are diluted, blended, and metered. Unglamorous, and the source of a lot of unexplained circuit behavior.
What goes wrong hereA dosing pump drifting or a reagent that froze in an outdoor tank overnight, so the circuit gets a different dose than the control room believes.
What gets used and why
- Glycol carriersDilution and freeze protection for reagents stored outdoors in cold climates.
- EmulsifiersStable dispersion of oily collectors and frother blends in water.
- Solvent carriersDelivery of collectors that are not water soluble in their native form.
- AntifoamFoam control during reagent makedown and transfer.
- Corrosion inhibitorsProtect reagent storage and distribution piping.
5 reagents at this step
Step 8 of 8 · Flotation Circuit
Concentrate handling & dewatering
Getting water out of the product before it ships, because moisture is freight you pay for and a smelter penalty you also pay for.
What goes wrong hereConcentrate moisture above the transportable moisture limit, which is a shipping refusal rather than a quality complaint.
What gets used and why
- Anionic flocculantsConcentrate thickening ahead of filtration.
- Filter aids and dewatering surfactantsLower cake moisture on pressure and vacuum filters, directly cutting freight cost.
- DefoamersBreak residual flotation froth that would otherwise blind a filter cloth.
- Dust suppressantsSurface treatment on dried concentrate during loadout and transport.
4 reagents at this step
Select a step to see the reagents. Arrow keys move forward and back through the flowsheet.
Step 1 of 6 · Separation and Tailings
Thickening
Settling solids and recovering water, which on most sites is the difference between having process water and buying it.
What goes wrong hereA rising bed or a slow settling rate, so overflow clarity fails and solids go back into the process water system.
What gets used and why
- Anionic polyacrylamideHigh molecular weight flocculants building settleable floc from fine mineral particles.
- Cationic and nonionic polymersAlternative charge chemistry matched to mineralogy and pulp chemistry.
- CoagulantsCharge neutralization ahead of flocculation on very fine or clay bearing material.
- Lime and soda ashpH adjustment optimizing flocculant performance.
4 reagents at this step
Step 2 of 6 · Separation and Tailings
Filtration & dewatering
The last chance to remove water mechanically before it has to be removed thermally, which costs many times more.
What goes wrong hereBlinded filter cloth and rising cycle times, which pull the whole plant back to the throughput of the filter rather than the mill.
What gets used and why
- Dewatering aidsSurfactants reducing surface tension in the cake so more water releases under the same pressure.
- FlocculantsCake formation and filtrate clarity on pressure and belt filters.
- Filter aidsPrecoat and body feed improving cake release and cloth life.
- Cloth cleaning chemistryAcid and alkaline washing restoring permeability rather than replacing cloth.
4 reagents at this step
Step 3 of 6 · Separation and Tailings
Tailings & paste thickening
High density and paste tailings, driven by water recovery and by dam safety expectations that have tightened considerably.
What goes wrong hereUnderflow that will not pump at the density the deposition plan assumes, which forces the plant to send more water to the impoundment.
What gets used and why
- High molecular weight flocculantsPaste and high density thickener performance at very high solids.
- Rheology modifiersYield stress control so paste pumps at the design density.
- CoagulantsFines capture in clay bearing tailings streams.
- BindersSurface stability on deposited tailings beaches.
4 reagents at this step
Step 4 of 6 · Separation and Tailings
Tailings water & reclaim
Water returning from the impoundment, carrying whatever the tailings released while it sat there.
What goes wrong hereReclaim water quality drifting seasonally, changing flotation performance in a circuit that nobody has touched.
What gets used and why
- Coagulants and flocculantsSuspended solids removal before water re-enters the plant.
- AntiscalantsGypsum and carbonate control in reclaim distribution systems.
- BiocidesAlgae and biological control in ponds and reclaim lines.
- OxidantsResidual reagent destruction where recycled chemistry interferes with flotation.
4 reagents at this step
Step 5 of 6 · Separation and Tailings
Acid rock drainage & water treatment
Sulfide oxidation producing acidic, metal bearing water, which is the longest lived liability a mine site has.
What goes wrong hereA discharge that has to meet limits for decades after the ore body is finished and the revenue has stopped.
What gets used and why
- Lime and limestoneNeutralization and metal hydroxide precipitation, the backbone of nearly every ARD treatment plant.
- Sodium hydroxideNeutralization where sludge volume matters more than reagent cost.
- Sodium sulfide and organosulfidesSulfide precipitation reaching far lower residual metal concentrations than hydroxide alone.
- FlocculantsCapture of fine metal hydroxide floc that would otherwise pass the clarifier.
- Sulfate removal chemistryBarium and specialty processes where sulfate itself is limited.
5 reagents at this step
Step 6 of 6 · Separation and Tailings
Dust control & reclamation
Haul roads, stockpiles, exposed surfaces, and eventually closure, which is a chemical program that outlives the operation.
What goes wrong hereFugitive dust from tailings surfaces and haul roads, which drives both compliance exposure and community relations.
What gets used and why
- Magnesium and calcium chlorideHaul road dust suppression through moisture retention.
- LignosulfonateBinder based road treatment without chloride corrosion on the fleet.
- Polymer emulsionsCrust forming treatment on tailings beaches and inactive surfaces.
- Soil amendmentspH correction and nutrient supply supporting revegetation at closure.
- Surfactant wetting agentsWater penetration into hydrophobic and compacted reclamation surfaces.
5 reagents at this step
Select a step to see the reagents. Arrow keys move forward and back through the flowsheet.
Step 1 of 7 · Hydrometallurgy
Heap & vat leaching
Dissolving metal out of ore with acid, on heaps that operate for years and cannot be easily corrected once built.
What goes wrong hereChanneling and poor solution distribution, leaving unleached ore inside a heap that has already been stacked and irrigated.
What gets used and why
- Sulfuric acidThe primary lixiviant for copper oxide leaching, and the largest single tonnage chemical on a leach operation.
- Ferric sulfateOxidant supporting secondary sulfide leaching in heaps.
- Surfactant wetting agentsImprove solution distribution and reduce channeling through the heap.
- Acid mist suppressantsWorker exposure control over acidic ponds and irrigation surfaces.
- AntiscalantsScale control in irrigation lines and drippers.
5 reagents at this step
Step 2 of 7 · Hydrometallurgy
Gold leaching & carbon circuits
Dissolving gold into solution and recovering it onto activated carbon, then stripping it back off.
What goes wrong hereCarbon fouling from carbonate scale and organics, which drops loading capacity and quietly reduces recovery across the whole circuit.
What gets used and why
- Sodium cyanideThe standard gold lixiviant, used under strict site controls and regulatory oversight.
- LimeProtective alkalinity in the leach, which is a safety requirement as much as a process one.
- Activated carbonAdsorbs dissolved gold from solution, consumed continuously through attrition and replacement.
- Sodium hydroxideElution chemistry stripping gold back off loaded carbon.
- Hydrochloric acidCarbon acid washing, removing carbonate scale that blinds adsorption sites.
- AntiscalantsCalcium carbonate control in leach and elution circuits.
6 reagents at this step
Step 3 of 7 · Hydrometallurgy
Cyanide destruction & detoxification
Destroying residual cyanide before solution reports to the tailings facility, which is a permit condition rather than an option.
What goes wrong hereA detox circuit that underperforms on a high copper ore, since copper cyanide complexes are harder to destroy than free cyanide.
What gets used and why
- Sodium metabisulfiteThe sulfur dioxide source in the standard air and sulfite destruction process.
- Copper sulfateCatalyst in the same destruction process, dosed to maintain the required copper level.
- Hydrogen peroxideAlternative oxidative destruction where sulfite chemistry is unsuitable.
- LimepH control through destruction, which governs the reaction rate.
- Ferric saltsIron addition converting residual species to stable complexes.
5 reagents at this step
Step 4 of 7 · Hydrometallurgy
Solvent extraction
Selectively pulling copper out of a dilute leach solution and concentrating it into a clean electrolyte.
What goes wrong hereCrud, the stable emulsion of organic, aqueous, and solids that accumulates at the interface and slowly steals organic inventory.
What gets used and why
- Kerosene diluentThe organic phase carrier, held to tight aromatic and flash point specification.
- Sulfuric acidStripping copper from loaded organic into the electrolyte.
- Clay and crud treatment mediaRecover organic from crud rather than disposing of expensive extractant.
- Coalescing aidsImprove phase disengagement and reduce organic entrainment losses.
- AntiscalantsGypsum control in aqueous circuits feeding the plant.
5 reagents at this step
Step 5 of 7 · Hydrometallurgy
Electrowinning
Plating metal out of solution onto cathodes, where surface quality determines whether the product meets grade.
What goes wrong hereNodular or rough cathode deposits causing short circuits and physical contamination, which downgrades a premium product.
What gets used and why
- Cobalt sulfateAnode protection, reducing lead corrosion into the electrolyte and extending anode life.
- Guar and smoothing agentsCathode surface levelling, producing smooth deposit that strips cleanly.
- Acid mist suppressant surfactantsReduce sulfuric acid mist in the tankhouse, which is a direct worker exposure control.
- Sulfuric acidElectrolyte conductivity and acid balance.
- Corrosion inhibitorsProtect tankhouse structures and equipment in an acid mist environment.
5 reagents at this step
Step 6 of 7 · Hydrometallurgy
Precipitation & refining
Recovering metals from solution as a saleable precipitate, and cleaning up what is left.
What goes wrong hereIncomplete precipitation leaving payable metal in a stream headed for treatment, which is revenue going to the tailings facility.
What gets used and why
- Sodium hydrosulfide and sodium sulfideSelective metal sulfide precipitation, including nickel, cobalt, and copper.
- Sodium hydroxide and limeHydroxide precipitation and pH staging for selective metal separation.
- Hydrogen peroxideOxidation of iron and other species ahead of selective precipitation.
- FlocculantsCapture and thickening of fine precipitate.
- Sulfuric acidRedissolution and pH control through refining stages.
5 reagents at this step
Step 7 of 7 · Hydrometallurgy
Smelter & pyrometallurgy support
The high temperature route, where slag chemistry and gas cleaning both consume bulk chemicals.
What goes wrong hereSulfur dioxide capture, which on a modern smelter is a larger operating consideration than the metallurgy itself.
What gets used and why
- Silica fluxSlag former binding iron and controlling slag chemistry in copper smelting.
- LimeSlag basicity control and gas scrubbing.
- Borax and boric acidFluxing in precious metal smelting and refining.
- Caustic sodaScrubber chemistry on off-gas treatment.
- Sulfuric acid plant chemistrySupport for the acid plant capturing sulfur dioxide from smelter gas.
5 reagents at this step
Select a step to see the reagents. Arrow keys move forward and back through the flowsheet.
Step 1 of 6 · Mine Site Operations
Equipment fluids & maintenance
A haul truck fleet, shovels, and drills consuming fluids in volumes that rival the process plant.
What goes wrong hereUnplanned equipment downtime, which on a mine site is measured in tonnes not moved rather than in repair cost.
What gets used and why
- Base oilsHydraulic, gear, and engine oil blending base for the fleet.
- Ethylene and propylene glycolEngine coolant with inhibitor packages matched to mixed metal systems.
- Diesel exhaust fluidUrea solution for SCR equipped fleet, consumed continuously wherever emissions tier requires it.
- Degreasers and parts cleanersShop and field maintenance across heavy equipment.
- Corrosion inhibitorsProtect equipment in wet, acidic, and dusty operating environments.
5 reagents at this step
Step 2 of 6 · Mine Site Operations
Fuel storage & treatment
Bulk diesel storage on site, often in remote conditions with long turnover times.
What goes wrong hereMicrobial growth at the fuel and water interface plugging filters across the fleet at the same time.
What gets used and why
- Fuel biocidesControl microbial growth living in the water bottom of storage tanks.
- DemulsifiersDrop water out of fuel so it can be drained rather than carried to injectors.
- Cold flow improversPrevent gelling in cold climate operations, purchased ahead of the season to be useful.
- Cetane improversCombustion quality and cold start performance in heavy equipment.
4 reagents at this step
Step 3 of 6 · Mine Site Operations
Site water supply & potable
Producing drinking and service water on a site that is often a long way from any municipal system.
What goes wrong hereA remote camp treatment system that nobody monitors closely until something goes wrong with it.
What gets used and why
- Coagulants and flocculantsTurbidity removal from raw surface or bore water.
- Sodium hypochloriteDisinfection and residual maintenance in camp distribution.
- RO antiscalants and membrane cleanersDesalination and demineralization where source water quality demands it.
- pH adjustment chemistryStabilization so treated water does not attack the distribution system.
4 reagents at this step
Step 4 of 6 · Mine Site Operations
Sewage & camp wastewater
Package treatment plants serving camps that swing between full occupancy and near empty on shift rotation.
What goes wrong hereBiological treatment that cannot cope with a load swinging by a factor of three every fortnight.
What gets used and why
- Flocculant polymersSolids capture and sludge dewatering in package plants.
- Caustic and acidpH neutralization to the discharge condition.
- DefoamersAeration basin foam control.
- Nutrient and bioaugmentation productsBiological recovery after a shutdown or an upset.
4 reagents at this step
Step 5 of 6 · Mine Site Operations
Underground services & ground support
Ventilation, refrigeration, and holding the rock up, all of which consume chemistry continuously.
What goes wrong hereGround support that does not develop strength fast enough to let the next cycle proceed, which stalls the whole development schedule.
What gets used and why
- Shotcrete acceleratorsSet the sprayed lining fast enough to return the heading to work.
- Cement grouts and additivesGround consolidation and bolt installation.
- Dispersants and superplasticizersPumpability of shotcrete and grout through long underground lines.
- Refrigeration glycolsSecondary loops in underground cooling systems on deep and hot mines.
- Dust suppressantsDevelopment and production dust control underground where ventilation alone is not enough.
5 reagents at this step
Step 6 of 6 · Mine Site Operations
Environmental monitoring & closure
The obligations that continue after the last truck leaves, and the chemistry that supports them.
What goes wrong hereA closure plan whose water treatment obligation runs for decades on a site with no operating revenue behind it.
What gets used and why
- Neutralizing agentsLong term water treatment on closed and legacy sites.
- Soil amendmentspH correction and nutrient supply for revegetation of disturbed ground.
- Polymer soil bindersErosion and dust control on rehabilitated surfaces.
- Analytical reagentsMonitoring program consumables supporting the compliance record.
4 reagents at this step
Or start with the problem
Nobody calls about reagents. They call about a number that moved.
The call is never a request for a C6 alcohol. It is recovery down two points, concentrate grade off spec, a thickener that will not settle, or a moisture result that failed at the port. Pick what you are seeing and the steps that address it will light up across every flowsheet.
Select a problem to highlight the relevant steps in every flowsheet.
How Lowe helps
Reagent consistency is worth more than reagent price.
A frother that varies lot to lot changes froth behavior, and the metallurgist spends a week chasing a circuit that was never the problem. On a concentrator, a single point of recovery is usually worth more than the entire annual reagent spend, which makes lot consistency the specification that actually matters. We source for repeatability first and say so plainly when the cheaper option is the wrong call.
1
Tell us the circuit and the dutyWhere it doses, the ore type and mineralogy, water chemistry, annual volume, package or bulk, and the site it ships to.2
We check the sourcing pathAvailability, grade and assay consistency, lot history, freight to remote sites, and practical alternates when a product runs tight.3
You get a clear answerA quote, a trial quantity for plant evaluation, or a straight explanation of what is realistic. No runaround either way.Full reference
Every step on one page.
The complete list, in flowsheet order, for anyone who would rather scan than click.
Crushing & Grinding · step 1
Crushing & material handling
- Magnesium chlorideHygroscopic dust suppressant holding moisture in the surface layer through dry weather.
- Calcium chlorideStronger moisture attraction where humidity is low and roads are heavily trafficked.
- LignosulfonateBinder based suppression without the chloride corrosion penalty on equipment.
- Surfactant wetting agentsMake water actually wet fine dry rock dust instead of beading off it.
- Polymer emulsionsCrust forming treatment on stockpiles and inactive surfaces.
Crushing & Grinding · step 2
Grinding & milling
- Glycol based grinding aidsReduce particle agglomeration so ground material clears the mill instead of recirculating.
- Triethanolamine and amine blendsSurface active agents improving mill throughput at low addition rates.
- Polyacrylate dispersantsSlurry viscosity control at high solids density.
- Corrosion inhibitorsProtect grinding media and mill internals, since media consumption is a major consumable cost.
- AntiscalantsPrevent hardness scale in mill water and cyclone circuits.
Crushing & Grinding · step 3
Slurry rheology & pumping
- Sodium polyacrylateDeflocculates fines and drops apparent viscosity at high solids.
- LignosulfonateLower cost dispersion where polyacrylate is more than the duty requires.
- Sodium hexametaphosphateDispersion plus sequestration of hardness that would otherwise flocculate the slurry.
- AntiscalantsGypsum and carbonate scale control in pipelines and cyclone feed.
Crushing & Grinding · step 4
Classification & sizing
- DispersantsPrevent fine particle agglomeration that reads as coarse material to a cyclone.
- DefoamersEntrained air control in cyclone feed sumps, which distorts density readings.
- Viscosity modifiersHold cyclone feed rheology inside the range the separation was designed for.
Crushing & Grinding · step 5
Process water conditioning
- LimePrimary pH control and hardness precipitation, bought in the largest tonnage of any reagent on most sites.
- Soda ashAlkalinity and pH modification where lime chemistry interferes with the flotation system.
- Sulfuric acidpH depression in circuits requiring acidic conditions.
- AntiscalantsControl gypsum and carbonate scaling in recycled water systems.
- BiocidesBiological control in process water ponds and distribution.
- CoagulantsSuspended solids removal from reclaim water before it re-enters the circuit.
Flotation Circuit · step 1
Conditioning & pH modification
- LimeThe workhorse pH modifier, and simultaneously a pyrite depressant, which is why it is the default in sulfide circuits.
- Soda ashAlkalinity where calcium ions from lime would interfere with the collector or the mineral surface.
- Sodium hydroxideFast, clean pH adjustment with no added calcium or carbonate.
- Sulfuric acidpH depression for circuits floating at acidic conditions.
- Sodium carbonateDispersion and pH control in industrial mineral and phosphate circuits.
Flotation Circuit · step 2
Collectors
- XanthatesSodium and potassium isopropyl, amyl, and ethyl grades. The primary sulfide collector family, chosen by chain length for strength versus selectivity.
- DithiophosphatesSelective sulfide collectors with useful frothing character, often paired with xanthate rather than replacing it.
- ThionocarbamatesHighly selective copper collectors where pyrite rejection matters more than raw recovery.
- Fatty acids and tall oilOxide and industrial mineral collection, including phosphate, fluorspar, and iron ore.
- Ether aminesReverse silica flotation in iron ore, floating the gangue rather than the value.
- Petroleum sulfonates and hydroxamatesSpecialty collection on oxides, rare earths, and difficult mineralogy.
Flotation Circuit · step 3
Frothers
- MIBC (methyl isobutyl carbinol)The reference frother across copper, polymetallic, and coal flotation. CAS 108-11-2. A C6 branched alcohol that produces a selective, relatively brittle froth with low persistence, which is exactly why it gives clean concentrate grade. It breaks down readily downstream instead of following the concentrate into the thickener.
- Polyglycol frothersPolypropylene glycol based frothers producing a stronger, more persistent froth with better fine particle recovery, at some cost in selectivity.
- MIBC and glycol blendsThe practical middle ground. Blending tunes froth strength and persistence to the ore without changing the collector suite.
- Pine oil and cresylic acidTraditional natural frothers with collecting character of their own, still used where the mineralogy suits them.
- C6 to C8 alcohol blendsAlcohol frother alternatives and MIBC rich co-product streams offering a different cost position.
Flotation Circuit · step 4
Depressants & modifiers
- LimePyrite depression through high pH, the most widely used depressant in sulfide flotation.
- Sodium metabisulfiteSphalerite and pyrite depression in differential copper lead zinc separation.
- Sodium silicateSilica and silicate gangue dispersion and depression across many circuits.
- Carboxymethyl cellulose and guarTalc and naturally floating gangue depression, critical in platinum group and some copper ores.
- Starch and dextrinIron oxide depression in reverse flotation and organic depression in industrial minerals.
- Zinc sulfateSphalerite depression during the copper and lead stages of a sequential circuit.
- Cyanide based depressantsPyrite and sphalerite depression in specific sulfide separations, used under strict site controls.
Flotation Circuit · step 5
Activators
- Copper sulfateSphalerite activation, exchanging copper onto the zinc sulfide surface so xanthate can adsorb. The classic activation step in zinc circuits.
- Sodium sulfide and hydrosulfideSulfidization of oxide copper and lead minerals, converting the surface to something a sulfide collector recognizes.
- Lead nitrateSurface activation in specific gold and polymetallic applications.
- Sulfuric acidSurface cleaning and activation in oxide and mixed ore circuits.
Flotation Circuit · step 6
Cell & column operation
- Frother trim additionStage dosing along the bank, since frother is consumed and froth character changes down the row.
- Wash water treatmentColumn wash water quality, which directly affects concentrate grade.
- DefoamersDownstream foam control where persistent froth follows concentrate into thickeners and filters.
- AntiscalantsScale control on cell internals and air spargers in hard recycled water.
Flotation Circuit · step 7
Reagent blending & dosing
- Glycol carriersDilution and freeze protection for reagents stored outdoors in cold climates.
- EmulsifiersStable dispersion of oily collectors and frother blends in water.
- Solvent carriersDelivery of collectors that are not water soluble in their native form.
- AntifoamFoam control during reagent makedown and transfer.
- Corrosion inhibitorsProtect reagent storage and distribution piping.
Flotation Circuit · step 8
Concentrate handling & dewatering
- Anionic flocculantsConcentrate thickening ahead of filtration.
- Filter aids and dewatering surfactantsLower cake moisture on pressure and vacuum filters, directly cutting freight cost.
- DefoamersBreak residual flotation froth that would otherwise blind a filter cloth.
- Dust suppressantsSurface treatment on dried concentrate during loadout and transport.
Separation & Tailings · step 1
Thickening
- Anionic polyacrylamideHigh molecular weight flocculants building settleable floc from fine mineral particles.
- Cationic and nonionic polymersAlternative charge chemistry matched to mineralogy and pulp chemistry.
- CoagulantsCharge neutralization ahead of flocculation on very fine or clay bearing material.
- Lime and soda ashpH adjustment optimizing flocculant performance.
Separation & Tailings · step 2
Filtration & dewatering
- Dewatering aidsSurfactants reducing surface tension in the cake so more water releases under the same pressure.
- FlocculantsCake formation and filtrate clarity on pressure and belt filters.
- Filter aidsPrecoat and body feed improving cake release and cloth life.
- Cloth cleaning chemistryAcid and alkaline washing restoring permeability rather than replacing cloth.
Separation & Tailings · step 3
Tailings & paste thickening
- High molecular weight flocculantsPaste and high density thickener performance at very high solids.
- Rheology modifiersYield stress control so paste pumps at the design density.
- CoagulantsFines capture in clay bearing tailings streams.
- BindersSurface stability on deposited tailings beaches.
Separation & Tailings · step 4
Tailings water & reclaim
- Coagulants and flocculantsSuspended solids removal before water re-enters the plant.
- AntiscalantsGypsum and carbonate control in reclaim distribution systems.
- BiocidesAlgae and biological control in ponds and reclaim lines.
- OxidantsResidual reagent destruction where recycled chemistry interferes with flotation.
Separation & Tailings · step 5
Acid rock drainage & water treatment
- Lime and limestoneNeutralization and metal hydroxide precipitation, the backbone of nearly every ARD treatment plant.
- Sodium hydroxideNeutralization where sludge volume matters more than reagent cost.
- Sodium sulfide and organosulfidesSulfide precipitation reaching far lower residual metal concentrations than hydroxide alone.
- FlocculantsCapture of fine metal hydroxide floc that would otherwise pass the clarifier.
- Sulfate removal chemistryBarium and specialty processes where sulfate itself is limited.
Separation & Tailings · step 6
Dust control & reclamation
- Magnesium and calcium chlorideHaul road dust suppression through moisture retention.
- LignosulfonateBinder based road treatment without chloride corrosion on the fleet.
- Polymer emulsionsCrust forming treatment on tailings beaches and inactive surfaces.
- Soil amendmentspH correction and nutrient supply supporting revegetation at closure.
- Surfactant wetting agentsWater penetration into hydrophobic and compacted reclamation surfaces.
Hydrometallurgy · step 1
Heap & vat leaching
- Sulfuric acidThe primary lixiviant for copper oxide leaching, and the largest single tonnage chemical on a leach operation.
- Ferric sulfateOxidant supporting secondary sulfide leaching in heaps.
- Surfactant wetting agentsImprove solution distribution and reduce channeling through the heap.
- Acid mist suppressantsWorker exposure control over acidic ponds and irrigation surfaces.
- AntiscalantsScale control in irrigation lines and drippers.
Hydrometallurgy · step 2
Gold leaching & carbon circuits
- Sodium cyanideThe standard gold lixiviant, used under strict site controls and regulatory oversight.
- LimeProtective alkalinity in the leach, which is a safety requirement as much as a process one.
- Activated carbonAdsorbs dissolved gold from solution, consumed continuously through attrition and replacement.
- Sodium hydroxideElution chemistry stripping gold back off loaded carbon.
- Hydrochloric acidCarbon acid washing, removing carbonate scale that blinds adsorption sites.
- AntiscalantsCalcium carbonate control in leach and elution circuits.
Hydrometallurgy · step 3
Cyanide destruction & detoxification
- Sodium metabisulfiteThe sulfur dioxide source in the standard air and sulfite destruction process.
- Copper sulfateCatalyst in the same destruction process, dosed to maintain the required copper level.
- Hydrogen peroxideAlternative oxidative destruction where sulfite chemistry is unsuitable.
- LimepH control through destruction, which governs the reaction rate.
- Ferric saltsIron addition converting residual species to stable complexes.
Hydrometallurgy · step 4
Solvent extraction
- Kerosene diluentThe organic phase carrier, held to tight aromatic and flash point specification.
- Sulfuric acidStripping copper from loaded organic into the electrolyte.
- Clay and crud treatment mediaRecover organic from crud rather than disposing of expensive extractant.
- Coalescing aidsImprove phase disengagement and reduce organic entrainment losses.
- AntiscalantsGypsum control in aqueous circuits feeding the plant.
Hydrometallurgy · step 5
Electrowinning
- Cobalt sulfateAnode protection, reducing lead corrosion into the electrolyte and extending anode life.
- Guar and smoothing agentsCathode surface levelling, producing smooth deposit that strips cleanly.
- Acid mist suppressant surfactantsReduce sulfuric acid mist in the tankhouse, which is a direct worker exposure control.
- Sulfuric acidElectrolyte conductivity and acid balance.
- Corrosion inhibitorsProtect tankhouse structures and equipment in an acid mist environment.
Hydrometallurgy · step 6
Precipitation & refining
- Sodium hydrosulfide and sodium sulfideSelective metal sulfide precipitation, including nickel, cobalt, and copper.
- Sodium hydroxide and limeHydroxide precipitation and pH staging for selective metal separation.
- Hydrogen peroxideOxidation of iron and other species ahead of selective precipitation.
- FlocculantsCapture and thickening of fine precipitate.
- Sulfuric acidRedissolution and pH control through refining stages.
Hydrometallurgy · step 7
Smelter & pyrometallurgy support
- Silica fluxSlag former binding iron and controlling slag chemistry in copper smelting.
- LimeSlag basicity control and gas scrubbing.
- Borax and boric acidFluxing in precious metal smelting and refining.
- Caustic sodaScrubber chemistry on off-gas treatment.
- Sulfuric acid plant chemistrySupport for the acid plant capturing sulfur dioxide from smelter gas.
Mine Site Operations · step 1
Equipment fluids & maintenance
- Base oilsHydraulic, gear, and engine oil blending base for the fleet.
- Ethylene and propylene glycolEngine coolant with inhibitor packages matched to mixed metal systems.
- Diesel exhaust fluidUrea solution for SCR equipped fleet, consumed continuously wherever emissions tier requires it.
- Degreasers and parts cleanersShop and field maintenance across heavy equipment.
- Corrosion inhibitorsProtect equipment in wet, acidic, and dusty operating environments.
Mine Site Operations · step 2
Fuel storage & treatment
- Fuel biocidesControl microbial growth living in the water bottom of storage tanks.
- DemulsifiersDrop water out of fuel so it can be drained rather than carried to injectors.
- Cold flow improversPrevent gelling in cold climate operations, purchased ahead of the season to be useful.
- Cetane improversCombustion quality and cold start performance in heavy equipment.
Mine Site Operations · step 3
Site water supply & potable
- Coagulants and flocculantsTurbidity removal from raw surface or bore water.
- Sodium hypochloriteDisinfection and residual maintenance in camp distribution.
- RO antiscalants and membrane cleanersDesalination and demineralization where source water quality demands it.
- pH adjustment chemistryStabilization so treated water does not attack the distribution system.
Mine Site Operations · step 4
Sewage & camp wastewater
- Flocculant polymersSolids capture and sludge dewatering in package plants.
- Caustic and acidpH neutralization to the discharge condition.
- DefoamersAeration basin foam control.
- Nutrient and bioaugmentation productsBiological recovery after a shutdown or an upset.
Mine Site Operations · step 5
Underground services & ground support
- Shotcrete acceleratorsSet the sprayed lining fast enough to return the heading to work.
- Cement grouts and additivesGround consolidation and bolt installation.
- Dispersants and superplasticizersPumpability of shotcrete and grout through long underground lines.
- Refrigeration glycolsSecondary loops in underground cooling systems on deep and hot mines.
- Dust suppressantsDevelopment and production dust control underground where ventilation alone is not enough.
Mine Site Operations · step 6
Environmental monitoring & closure
- Neutralizing agentsLong term water treatment on closed and legacy sites.
- Soil amendmentspH correction and nutrient supply for revegetation of disturbed ground.
- Polymer soil bindersErosion and dust control on rehabilitated surfaces.
- Analytical reagentsMonitoring program consumables supporting the compliance record.