Influence of MIBC- butyl glycol frother blends on two phase characterization and three phase flotation performance
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1
Mineral Processing Department, Istanbul Technical University
2
Balıkesir Vocational School, Department of Mining and Mineral Extraction, Mining Technology Program
Publication date: 2026-09-27
Corresponding author
Gülşah Güven
Mineral Processing Department, Istanbul Technical University
Physicochem. Probl. Miner. Process. 2026;62(20th Balkan Mineral Processing Congress 5):240357
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ABSTRACT
Frother chemistry plays a key role in controlling bubble characteristics and flotation performance. This study investigated the effects of Methyl Isobutyl Carbinol (MIBC), Butyl Glycol, and their dual mixtures, representing two structurally different frother families, on the critical coalescence concentration (CCC), bubble size, light transmittance, dynamic froth stability, and microflotation performance. The dual blends reached the CCC at lower concentrations (7.5–9.0 ppm) than the single frothers (10.2–11.0 ppm). However, a lower CCC did not necessarily correspond to a smaller Sauter mean bubble diameter (d₃₂). Instead, the Sauter mean bubble diameter increased in the 25:75 and 75:25 MIBC–Butyl Glycol blends, indicating that the blending ratio had a pronounced influence on bubble size. Light transmittance showed a strong inverse relationship with the Sauter mean bubble diameter, and the second-order polynomial model provided the best fit, particularly for the dual blends. Among the single frothers, Butyl Glycol exhibited the highest dynamic froth stability, whereas the second-order polynomial model generally provided a better fit than the exponential model for the relationship between dynamic froth stability and the Sauter mean bubble diameter. Microflotation experiments revealed mineral-dependent flotation responses, with the MIBC-rich 75:25 blend producing the highest galena recovery (96.22%) and the Butyl Glycol-rich 25:75 blend producing the highest sphalerite recovery (97.88%). These results show that flotation performance depends on frother chemistry, blending ratio, particle characteristics, and bubble–particle interactions. Therefore, CCC and bubble size should be evaluated together with these factors when selecting frothers for flotation.