Nalco Water, a subsidiary of US-based chemical solution company Ecolab, has launched Flotation 360 to improve performance maintenance in mineral processing plants.

The company said the digital tool would enable a "holistic approach" to flotation in mineral processing.

It combines Nalco Water's frother and collector chemistries with a global technical service team and digital diagnostics tools that monitor chemical, operational and mechanical levers.

Ecolab said that mineral processing plants face the dual pressures of responding to growing demand while also providing improved visibility.

They must also contend with outside influences, such as changes in the ore body, shifting customer demand and quality requirements, natural resource constraints and more.

Ecolab said mining companies must be "more agile than ever" to meet these challenges and evolve their production strategies.

The Flotation 360 solution's digital diagnostic tools tap into the existing internet of things (IoT) at customer sites and use "innovative algorithms" to give real-time predictive analytics on several flotation factors.

Arjen Boogaards, senior vice president and general manager of Global Mining, Ecolab Industrial, said the solution is "unique" in its combination of advanced chemistry, technical expertise, digital innovation and predictive, actionable insights.