A new method for determination of frothability of frothers using water recovery measurement

A new method was introduced for frothing characterization of flotation frothers. The method uses water recovery to develop a new frothability index named water recovery index (WRI). This index was determined for some commercial frothers and the results were compared with dynamic frothability index (DFI). The results show that the water recovery index values follows the order of A-65 13016 s/mol > DF-250 6292.4 s/m > MIBC 1240 s/mol > Isoamyl alcohol 343.2 s/mol > Butanol 144.87 s/mol. It also shows that the DFI order is A-65 437,080 s.dm3/mol > DF-250 197,271 s.dm3/mol > MIBC 39,427 s.dm3/mol > Isoamyl alcohol 10,517 s.dm3/mol > Butanol 1977.3 s.dm3/mol. The new method offers many advantages over conventional froth height measurement; the experimental set-up developed for water recovery measurement is more compact and is easy to use. Moreover, the special design of the set-up on the other hand, eliminates the wall effect of flotation container and increases the reproducibility of measurements.