Ciba Specialty Chemicals introduces new flocculants featuring revolutionary UMA™ technology

11-04-2002: Ciba Specialty Chemicals announces the launch of four new Ciba®MAGNAFLOC® high performance flocculants. The flocculants are manufactured using Ciba’s revolutionary UMA™ (Unique Molecular Architecture) process, which is based on a 3-dimensional molecule rather than the 2-dimensional molecule of conventional flocculants. As a result, these products offer true multifunctionality and aid greater operational efficiency across a broad range of mineral processing environments and can be used for sedimentation, filtration and centrifugation.

Conventional flocculant production techniques can result in a compromise between product performance and ease of manufacture. Ciba Specialty Chemicals’ manufacturing process has allowed the company to create polymers by design, that feature its unique molecular architecture (UMA™ ). The new range of MAGNAFLOC® products – including Ciba® MAGNAFLOC® 3230, Ciba® MAGNAFLOC® 4240, Ciba® MAGNAFLOC® 5250, and Ciba® MAGNAFLOC® 6260 - removes any compromise, resulting in maximum performance across a broad range of operating parameters.

The newest additions to the MAGNAFLOC® range offer faster sedimentation rates together with improved clarities, improved filtration rates with low cake moistures, and are effective over a wide range of plant conditions. These products can be used in a variety of industries including coal, diamonds, gold, aggregates and base metals.

One of the benefits of using the new MAGNAFLOC® polymers is they require significantly lower dosage levels than traditional flocculants, which, in turn improves the efficiency of downstream processes due to improved supernatant clarities. Also any reduction in cake moisture content gives corresponding benefits in terms of transportation and improved handling properties. The greatly reduced moisture levels which Ciba® MAGNAFLOC® products provide, leads directly to greater cost efficiencies and savings for those involved in disposal management.

Ciba Specialty Chemicals (SWX: CIBN, NYSE: CSB) is a leading company dedicated to producing high-value effects for its customers’ products. Our specialty chemicals, added in small quantities, enhance the performance, look and feel of the final product. Business success is driven by our long- term strategy of innovation and continuous operational improvements. Ciba brings new and creative thought to the processes and products of our customers in more than 120 countries. Ciba generated sales of CHF 7.4 billion in 2001 and CHF 276 million was spent on R&D to foster innovation across the Company