(1) A foaming agent is a non-polar surfactant. Its polar groups are hydrophilic, and its non-polar groups are aerophilic. Its molecules can oriented at the air-water interface (bubble surface), strongly reducing the surface tension of water.
(2) The foaming agent should have appropriate solubility. The solubility of the foaming agent has a great influence on its foaming performance. If the solubility is very high, the amount of agent consumed is large, or a large amount of foam will be generated rapidly, but it will not be durable; if the solubility is too low, it will not have enough time to dissolve and exert its foaming effect, and it may be lost with the foam. Generally speaking, the solubility of the foaming agent is best at 0.2-5 g/L.
(3) At low dosage, it can form a large number of bubbles that are evenly distributed, of suitable size, with appropriate toughness and low viscosity.
(4) It has no collecting properties and has good adaptability to changes in the pH value of the slurry and various components in the slurry.
(5) It is non-toxic, odorless, non-corrosive, easy to use, inexpensive, and widely available.