Flotation for Mining and Mineral Processing

Solutions that Maximize Recovery and Profitability

Flotation is at the heart of your mineral processing business. Trust it to someone who is committed to achieving the best performance at the lowest cost. Nalco Water offers a diverse portfolio of flotation programs, all of which are developed to overcome flotation process challenges encountered in a variety of metals and mineral operations.


Our range of flotation solutions include frother and collector programs for coal, copper, molybdenum, phosphate, potash, and more. All of our solutions address your process holistically, helping you optimize your flotation circuit to achieve greater selectivity, recovery, grade, and ultimately, cost performance. With over 1,600 global research, development, and engineering associates and several dedicated flotation labs around the world, Nalco Water can deliver a robust flotation solution with unmatched service that is local to you.

iStock-172321316_Wet_Coal_Pile.jpg

“Capitalising on Coal Kinetics” – Nalco Water Flotation Expert Featured in World Coal Magazine

Dr. James Counter, Nalco Water Australia, examines the opportunities for increased recovery and yield by optimizing flotation kinetics.  In this article, he explores how a mechanical technology can supplement chemical solutions to maximize flotation performance.

In the Spotlight – Copper Flotation

Flotation technology has a direct and significant impact on a copper operation's bottom line. With the right solution, our customers can improve overall cost performance by optimizing their flotation method and circuit. Nalco Water offers a diverse range of froth flotation and collector programs to achieve the right balance of kinetics, strength, stability, and selectivity. By implementing a customized solution, Nalco Water can help you improve copper and / or molybdenum recovery and increase the profitability of your operations. Download the following brochure on sulfide flotation programs to learn more.

In the Spotlight – Phosphate Flotation

After investing in planning, drilling, conveying, crushing, and grinding, a phosphate operation has between 5-15 minutes to concentrate all the phosphate (PO4) mined, or they will lose it. With the proper froth flotation reagent program, our customers can improve bottom-line profitability through froth flotation improvements, such as increased tonnage, recovery, and grade in the phosphate beneficiation process. With a broad range of froth flotation solutions and concise performance control, Nalco Water can help you navigate fluctuations in ore and operation conditions, minimizing potential losses. Download the following brochure on the phosphate beneficiation process to learn more.

Solving Challenges for Mineral Flotation

Flotation Success Stories

Copper processing plant machinery

Nalco Water Frother Program Helps Copper Concentrator to Increase Recovery and Reduce Total Cost of Operations

A copper mine in South America partnered with Nalco Water to help achieve their operational goals. The goals included improving recovery through their copper flotation circuit, increasing productivity, and ultimately reducing the total cost of operations while ensuring a safe production environment. By introducing FrothPro 507, a specific product in our diverse portfolio of frothers, Nalco Water helped the mine save on maintenance and increase recovery by 2,526 tons per year, amounting to $14.98M in value delivered to the customer. Download the case study below to learn more.

Open pit mine on sunny day

Nalco Water Froth Flotation Solution Helps Increase Recovery at a Copper and Moly Operation

A copper mine in the southwestern United States was challenged with processing a more difficult type of ore with daily variability. The customer approached Nalco Water for help with determining a treatment program that would help improve the recovery for both copper and moly. By implementing the right froth flotation program, Nalco Water was able to help improve overall recovery by 2% at the same dose as the incumbent product.  The improved recovery ultimately helped to reduce the total cost of operations.  Download the case study below to learn more.

Programs, Products, Equipment and Services

Explore our Flotation Offerings