Mineral Processing Flowsheet Design & Optimization | Arkema Specialty Surfactants

Every ore body is different, which means there is no universal mineral processing flowsheet or flotation reagent program that will maximize mineral grade and recovery. Flowsheet design, reagent selection, equipment, and operating conditions all influence metallurgical performance and must be considered together.

Arkema combines metallurgical testing, customized flotation reagents, and flowsheet design expertise to help producers identify opportunities to improve mineral separation, grade, recovery, and overall process efficiency.

Optimize the Grade-Recovery Balance

Maximizing mineral value requires balancing concentrate grade and recovery. Improving one can sometimes come at the expense of the other, making it important to evaluate the complete beneficiation process rather than individual variables independently.

Arkema's metallurgical experts evaluate the interaction between:

Ore mineralogy and characteristics
Flowsheet configuration
Flotation reagent selection and dosage
Equipment and operating conditions
Mineral grade and recovery targets

By considering these factors together, we can identify opportunities to improve the grade-recovery relationship and optimize overall mineral processing performance.

Customized Flowsheet Development and Optimization

Arkema provides technical support for both new and existing mineral processing operations, including:

Laboratory evaluation and metallurgical testing
Flotation reagent development and optimization
Beneficiation flowsheet development
Existing flowsheet evaluation and optimization
Process simplification opportunities
Plant trials and process consultation
Ongoing optimization as ore and operating conditions change

Our technical experts have developed and optimized flowsheets for a broad range of industrial mineral applications, including phosphate, lithium, feldspar, high-purity quartz / silica sand, and other industrial minerals.

Simplify and Optimize Mineral Processing

Where appropriate, simplifying a beneficiation flowsheet can help improve operational and process efficiency. Combined with customized flotation reagents, an optimized flowsheet can help producers improve mineral separation, grade, recovery, reagent efficiency, and overall process economics.

Arkema works with customers from laboratory evaluation through plant implementation to develop a flowsheet and reagent strategy tailored to the specific ore and processing objectives.

Partner with Arkema

Whether you're developing a new operation or looking to improve an existing beneficiation process, Arkema's metallurgical experts can evaluate your ore, flowsheet, flotation reagents, and operating conditions together.

Send us your ore and let our experts develop a customized flowsheet and flotation reagent strategy designed to maximize its processing potential.

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Mining Solutions Brochure

Explore Arkema's mineral processing technologies, flotation reagents, and beneficiation expertise for phosphate and other industrial minerals. Log in or create a private access account.

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Mining Benefit Sheet

Learn how Arkema's customized flotation reagents and process expertise help improve phosphate recovery, concentrate grade, and beneficiation performance. Log in or create a private access account.