An improved class of flotation frothers

Incorporating certain functional groups or atoms into surfactant molecules can have a dramatic impact on the surface activity of the chemicals. This p aper summarizes how the introduction of sulfur atom into polyalkylene oxide frother molecules increased metal recovery, both copper and molybdenum, in the flotation of porphyrry ores. Both hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) n umbers and collector/frother/mineral interactions are considered to play a role in enhancing recovery. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.