Standard iron ore flotation includes an acid circuit process with the use of petroleum sulfonates like AERO 801, AERO 825 and AERO 869 promoters at a pH range between 3 to 5, adjusted with sulfuric acid during high solids conditioning (>50% solids by weight where possible). Depending on the types of gangue minerals present, fatty acid base collectors like AERO 704, AERO 726 promoters can be used in a neutral to slightly acidic conditions.
Cytec's hydroxamate collectors, like AERO 6493 promoter, have proven to be very selective iron mineral collectors and can be very effective in difficult applications where the standard petroleum sulfonate and fatty acid flotation schemes do not work.
Reverse flotation of silica to produce a final iron ore concentrate is being practiced to float quartz and other silicates using ether-amine collectors and AEROFROTH and OREPREP frothers as required.