Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B03—SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
  • B03D—FLOTATION; DIFFERENTIAL SEDIMENTATION
  • B03D1/00—Flotation
  • B03D1/001—Flotation agents
  • B03D1/004—Organic compounds
  • B03D1/012—Organic compounds containing sulfur
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B03—SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
  • B03D—FLOTATION; DIFFERENTIAL SEDIMENTATION
  • B03D1/00—Flotation
  • B03D1/001—Flotation agents
  • B03D1/004—Organic compounds
  • B03D1/014—Organic compounds containing phosphorus
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B03—SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
  • B03D—FLOTATION; DIFFERENTIAL SEDIMENTATION
  • B03D2201/00—Specified effects produced by the flotation agents
  • B03D2201/02—Collectors
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B03—SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
  • B03D—FLOTATION; DIFFERENTIAL SEDIMENTATION
  • B03D2203/00—Specified materials treated by the flotation agents; specified applications
  • B03D2203/02—Ores
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B03—SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
  • B03D—FLOTATION; DIFFERENTIAL SEDIMENTATION
  • B03D2203/00—Specified materials treated by the flotation agents; specified applications
  • B03D2203/02—Ores
  • B03D2203/025—Precious metal ores

Definitions

• This invention concerns a novel collector composition useful for the recovery of metal-containing sulfide minerals and sulfidized metal-containing oxide minerals from ores by froth flotation.
• Flotation is a process of treating a mixture of finely divided mineral solids,- e.g., a pulverulent ore, suspended in a liquid whereby a portion of such solids is separated from other finely divided solids, e.g., clays and other like materials present in the ore, by introducing a gas (or providing a gas in situ) in the liquid to produce a frothy mass containing certain of the solids on the top of the liquid, and leaving suspended (unfrothed) other solid components of the ore.
• a gas or providing a gas in situ
• Flotation is based on the principle that introducing a gas into a liquid containing solid par ⁇ ticles of different materials suspended therein causes adherence of some gas to certain suspended solids and not to others and makes the particles having the gas thus adhered thereto lighter than the liquid. Accord_ ingly, these particles rise to the top of the liquid to form a froth.
• Various flotation agents have been admixed with the suspension to improve the frothing process.
• collectors for sulfide minerals including xanthates, thionocarbamates and the like; frothers which impart the property of forming a stable froth, e.g., natural oils such as pine oil and euca ⁇ lyptus oil; modifiers such as activators to induce flotation in the presence of a collector, e.g., copper sulfate; depressants, e.g., sodium cyanide, which tend to prevent a collector from functioning as such on a mineral which it is desired to retain in the liquid, and thereby discourage a substance from being carried up and forming a part of the froth; pH regulators to produce optimum metallurgical results, e.g., lime, soda ash and the like.
• frothers which impart the property of forming a stable froth
• frothers which impart the property of forming a stable froth
• modifiers such as activators to induce flotation in the presence of a collector, e.g., copper
• additives of the hereinbefore described types are selected for use according to the nature of the ore, the mineral(s) sought to be recovered, and the other additaments which are to be used in combination there ⁇ with.
• collectors commonly used for the recov ⁇ ery of metal-containing sulfide minerals or sulfidized metal-containing oxide minerals are xanthates, dithio- phosphates, and thionocarbamates. These volatile
• the xanthates, thionocarbamates, and dithiophosphates do not selec- tively recover nonferrous metal-containing sulfide minerals in the presence of iron-containing sulfide minerals. On the contrary, such collectors collect and recover all metal-containing sulfide minerals. What is needed is a flotation collector composition which will selectively recover the non ⁇ ferrous metal-containing sulfide minerals or sulfidized metal-containing oxide minerals in the presence of ferrous sulfides.
• This invention concerns a novel composition which is useful as a collector for the recovery of nonferrous metal-containig sulfide minerals and sulfid ⁇ ized metal-containing oxide minerals from ores in a froth flotation process.
• the novel composition com ⁇ prises:
• a hydrocarbon containing one or more monosulfide units wherein the carbon atoms to-which the sulfur atom(s) are bound are aliphatic or cycloali- phatic carbon atoms, and the total carbon content of the hydrocarbon portion is such that the hydrocarbon has sufficient hydrophobic character to cause the metal-containing sulfide mineral or sulfidized metal- -containing oxide mineral particles to be driven to an air/bubble interface;
• novel collectors of this invention result in surprisingly high recovery of nonferrous metal-con- taining sulfide minerals or sulfidized metal-containing oxide minerals and good selectivity toward such non ⁇ ferrous metal-containing sulfide minerals and sulfi ⁇ dized metal-containing oxide minerals when such metal- containing sulfide minerals or sulfidized metal-con- taining oxide minerals are found in the presence of iron-containing sulfide minerals.
• These collectors demonstrate good recovery and good kinetics.
• One component of the novel collector compo ⁇ sition of this invention is a hydrocarbon which con ⁇ tains one or more monosulfide units wherein the sulfur atoms of the sulfide units are bound to non-aromatic carbon atoms, i.e., aliphatic or cycloaliphatic carbon atoms.
• Monosulfide unit refers herein to a unit wherein a sulfur atom is bound to two carbon atoms of a hydro ⁇ carbon moiety only.
• Such hydrocarbon compounds con ⁇ taining one or more monosulfide units include such compounds which are substituted with hydroxy, cyano, halo, ether, hydrocarbyloxy and hydro- carbyl thioether moieties.
• - Non-aromatic carbon atom refers herein to a carbon atom which is not part of an aromatic ring.
• Preferred hydrocarbons containing monosulfide units include ' those corresponding to the formula
• R 1 and R2 are independently a hydrocarbyl radical or a hydrocarbyl radical substituted with one or more hydroxy, cyano, halo, ether, hydro ⁇ carbyloxy or hydrocarbyl thioether moieties;
• R 1 and R2 may combine to form a heterocyclic ring structure with S; with the proviso that S is bound to an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic carbon atom; with the further proviso that the total carbon content of the hydrocarbon sulfide be such that it has sufficient hydrophobic character to cause the metal-containing sulfide mineral or sulfidized metal-containing oxide mineral particles to be driven to an air/bubble inter ⁇ face.
• R 1 and R2 are independently an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aralkyl moiety, unsubsti- tuted or substituted with one or more hydroxy, cyano, halo, OR 3, or SR3 moieties, wherein R3 is a hydrocarbyl radical, wherein R 1 and R2 may combine to form a hetero- cyclic ring with S.
• R 1 and R2 are more preferably an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic moiety, unsubstituted or
• R 1 and R2 do not combi.ne to form a heterocyclic ring with sulfur and R 1 and R2 are alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl ' or cycloakenyl, unsubstituted or
• R is aliphatic or cycloaliphatic. In a most preferred embodiment, R is methyl or ethyl.
• R 2 i a C, ,.. alkyl or alkenyl group.
• R 1 and R2 are not the same hydro ⁇ carbon moiety, that is, the monosulfide is asymmetrical.
• R 3 i.s preferably ali.phatic or cycloaliphati.c.
• R3 i.s more preferably alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl or cyclo- alkenyl.
• the total carbon content of the hydrocarbon portion of the hydrocarbon monosulfide must be such that the hydrocarbon sulfide has sufficient hydrophobic character to cause the metal-containing sulfide mineral or sulfidized metal-containing oxide mineral particles to be driven to the air/bubble interface.
• the total carbon content of the hydrocarbon mono ⁇ sulfide is such that the minimum carbon number is 4, more preferably 6, and most preferably 8.
• the maximum carbon content is preferably 20, more prefer-ably 16, and most preferably 12.
• Examples of cyclic compounds which are hydro ⁇ carbon sulfides of this invention include the following structures.
• R is independently aryl, alkaryl, .aralkyl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, hydroxy, cyano, halo, OR 3, SR3, wherein the aryl, alkaryl, -aralkyl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl may optionally be substituted with a hydroxy, cyano, halo, OR 3 or SR3 moiety, and the like; and R is a straight- or branched-alkylene, -alkenylene, or -alkynylene, unsubstituted or substituted with a hydroxy, cyano, halo, OR 3 or SR3 moiety.
• hydrocarbon sulfides useful in this invention correspond to the formula
• R is independently hydrocarbyl, or hydro ⁇ carbyl substituted with a hydroxy, cyano, halo,
• n is an integer of 0, 1, 2 or 3; with the proviso that the total carbon content of the hydrocarbon portion of the collector is such that the collector has sufficient hydrophobic character to cause the metal-containing sulfide mineral or sulfidized metal-containing oxide mineral par ⁇ ticles to be driven to the air/bubble interface.
• R is aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with a cyano, hydroxy, halo, OR 3 or SR3 moi.ety, wherein . R is as hereinbefore defined. More preferably, R is an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic moiety, unsubstituted or substituted with a hydroxy, cyano, aliphatic ether, cycloaliphatic ether, aLiphatic thioether or cycloali- c. phatic thioether moiety. Even more preferably, R is an alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl moiety.
• one -C(H) (R ) 3 _ n is a methyl or ethyl moiety, and the other is a ⁇ c __-, -, alkyl or alkenyl moiety.
• n is 1, 2 or 3, and more prefer- ably 2 or 3.
• hydrocarbon sulfides within the scope of this invention include methylbutyl sulfide, methylpentyl sulfide, methylhexyl sulfide, methylheptyl sulfide, methyloctyl sulfide, methylnonyl sulfide, methyldecyl sulfide, methylundecyl sulfide, methyl- dodecyl sulfide, methylcyclopentyl sulfide, methyl- cyclohexyl sulfide, methylcycloheptyl sulfide, methyl- cyclooctyl sulfide, ethylbutyl sulfide, ethylpentyl
• propylheptyl sulfide propyloctyl sulfide, propylnonyl sulfide, propyldecyl sulfide, propylundecyl sulfide, propyldodecyl sulfide, propylcyclopentyl sulfide, propylcyclohexyl sulfide, propylcycloheptyl sulfide, propylcyclooctyl sulfide, dibutyl sulfide, butylpentyl sulfide, butylhexyl sulfide, butylheptyl sulfide, butyloctyl sulfide, butylnonyl sulfide, butyl- decyl sulfide, butylundecyl sulfide, butyldodecyl sulf
• More preferred sulfides include methylhexyl sulfide, methylheptyl sulfide, methyloctyl sulfide, methylnonyl sulfide, methyldecyl sulfide, ethylhexyl sulfide, ethylheptyl sulfide, ethyloctyl sulfide, ethylnonyl sulfide, ethyl- decyl sulfide, dibutyl sulfide, dipentyl sulfide, dihexyl sulfide, diheptyl sulfide, and dioctyl sulfide.
• the second component of the novel collector composition of this invention is an alkyl thiocarbon ⁇ ate, a thionocarbamate, a thiophosphate, or mixtures thereof.
• Alkyl thiocarbonates refer herein to those compounds which contain a thiocarbonate moiety and at least one alkyl moiety wherein the alkyl moiety has sufficient hydrophobic character so as to cause a metal-containing sulfide mineral or sulfidized metal- containing oxide mineral particles associated therewith to be driven to an air/bubble interface.
• Preferred alkyl thiocarbonates correspond to the formula
• R 7 is a C-, 2Q alkyl group
• X is independently in each occurrence
• M is an alkali metal cation.
• Preferred alkyl thiocarbonates include alkyl monothiocarbonates, alkyl dithiocarbonates, or alkyl trithiocarbonates.
• Preferred alkyl monothiocarbonates cor- respond to the formula
• R 7 and M are as defined hereinbefore.
• Examples of preferred alkyl monothio ⁇ carbonates include sodium ethyl monothiocarbonate, sodium isopropyl monothiocarbonate, sodium iso- butyl monothiocarbonate, sodium amyl monothiocar ⁇ bonate, potassium ethyl monothiocarbonate, potas- sium isopropyl monothiocarbonate, potassium iso- butyl monothiocarbonate, and potassium amyl mono ⁇ thiocarbonate.
• Alkyl dithiocarbonates are commonly referred to as xanthates.
• Preferred alkyl di- thiocarbonates correspond to the formula 7 » - + R -O-C-S M Ha
• Preferred alkyl dithiocarbonates include potassium ethyl dithiocarbonate, sodium ethyl dithiocarbonate, potassium -amyl dithiocar ⁇ bonate, sodium amyl dithiocarbonate, potassium isopropyl dithiocarbonate, sodium isopropyl di- thiocarbonate, sodium sec-butyl dithiocarbonate, potassium sec-butyl dithiocarbonate, sodium iso ⁇ butyl dithiocarbonate, potassium isobutyl dithio ⁇ carbonate, and the like.
• Preferred alkyl trithiocarbonates cor- respond to the formula
• alkyl trithiocarbonates examples include sodium isobutyl trithiocarbonate and potassium isobutyl trithiocarbonate.
• Preferred thionocarbamates correspond to the formula S
• R is independently in each occurrence a C, , n alkyl group
• Y is -S M or -OR , wherein R is a C l-10 ⁇ Y 1 group; a is the integer 1 or 2; and b is the integer 0 or 1, wherein a+b must equal 2.
• Preferred thionocarbamates include dialkyl dithiocarbamates and alkyl thionocarba ⁇ mates.
• Preferred dialkyl dithiocarbamates cor ⁇ respond to the formula
• M is as hereinbefore defined; and R is independently a C, , Q alkyl group.
• dialkyl dithio- carbamates examples include methyl butyl dithiocarbamate, methyl isobutyl dithiocarbamate, methyl sec-butyl dithiocarbamate, methyl propyl dithiocarbamate, methyl isopropyl dithiocarbamate, ethyl butyl dithiocarbamate, ethyl isobutyl dithiocarbamate, ethyl sec-butyl dithiocarbamate, ethyl propyl dithiocarbamate, and ethyl isopropyl dithiocar ⁇ bamate.
• R 8 is as hereinbefore defined and R9 is a C, 10 alkyl group.
• alkyl thionocar ⁇ bamates examples include N-methyl butyl thionocarbamate, N-methyl isobutyl thionocarbamate, N-methyl sec- -butyl thionocarbamate, N-methyl propyl thiono ⁇ carbamate, N-methyl isopropyl thionocarbamate, N-ethyl butyl thionocarbamate, N-ethyl isobutyl thionocarbamate, N-ethyl sec-butyl thionocarba ⁇ mate, N-ethyl propyl thionocarbamate, and N-ethyl isopropyl thionocarbamate. More preferred thiono ⁇ carbamates include N-ethyl isopropyl thionocarba ⁇ mate and N-ethyl isobutyl thionocarbamate.
• Preferred thiophosphates generally cor ⁇ respond to the formula
• R is independently hydrogen, a C 1 _ 10 alkyl group or an aryl group; X is oxygen or sulfur; and M is an alkali metal cation.
• Preferred thiophosphates include monoalkyl dithiophosphate, dialkyl dithiophosphate, diaryl dithio ⁇ phosphate, and dialkyl monothiophosphate.
• Preferred monoalkyl dithiophosphates correspond to the formula
• Examples of preferred monoalkyl dithio ⁇ phosphates include ethyl dithiophosphate, propyl dithiophosphate, isopropyl dithiophosphate, butyl dithiophosphate, sec-butyl dithiophosphate, and isobutyl dithiophosphate.
• Preferred dialkyl and diaryl dithiophos ⁇ phates correspond to the formula
• dialkyl and diaryl dithiophos ⁇ phates examples include sodium diethyl dithiophosphate, sodium di-sec-butyl dithiophosphate, sodium diisobutyl dithio- phosphate, sodium diisoamyl dithiophosphate, and sodium dicresyl dithiophosphate.
• Preferred dialkyl monothiophosphates cor ⁇ respond to the formula
• Preferred monothiophosphates include sodium diethyl monothiophosphate, sodium di-sec-butyl mono ⁇ thiophosphate, sodium diisobutyl monothiophosphate, and sodium diisoamyl monothiophosphate.
• R is preferably C 2 _ 16 alkyl, more preferably
• R is preferably C, . alkyl and most preferably C-,_ 3 alkyl.
• R is preferably C 2 , Q alkyl, more preferably C 2 _ 6 alkyl and most preferably C 3 _ 4 alkyl.
• R is preferably C 2 rouge alkyl or cresyl.
• the composition of this invention comprises: (a) the hydrocarbon sulfide of formula I to (b) the alkyl thiocarbonate of formula II, thionocar ⁇ bamate of formula III, thiophosphate of formula IV, or mixture thereof, in a ratio such that the composition is an effective collector for metal-containing sulfide minerals and sulfidized metal-containing oxide minerals in a froth flotation process.
• composition of this invention preferably comprises: (a) between about 10 and about 90 percent by weight of hydrocarbon sulfide of formula I; and (b) between about 10 and about 90 percent by weight of an alkyl thiocarbonate of formula II, thionocarbamate of formula III, thiophosphate of formula IV, or mixtures thereof.
• composition of this invention more pre ⁇ ferably comprises: (a) between about 20 and about 80 percent by weight of a hydrocarbon sulfide of formula I; and (b) between about 20 and about 80 percent by weight of an alkyl thiocarbonate of formula II, thio ⁇ nocarbamate of formula III, thiophosphate of formula IV . or mixtures thereof.
• composition of this invention even more preferably comprises: (a) between about 30 and 70 percent by weight of a hydrocarbon sulfide of formula
• the ratio of hydrocarbon sulfide of formula I to alkyl thiocar ⁇ bonate of formula II, thionocarbamate of formula III, thiophosphate of formula IV or mixtures thereof is such that the recovery of metal-containing sulfide minerals or sulfidized metal-containing oxide minerals in a froth flotation process is higher than either component alone could recover at the same weight dosage. More preferably, the dosage at which the collector is used, is that dosage at which the component (b) of formula II, III, or IV of the composition when used alone gives a higher recovery than the hydrocarbon sulfide of formula I gives at such level.
• the novel collector composition of this invention gives higher recoveries, often with better metal grade(s), than can be achieved with the use of either collector component alone.
• Grade is defined as the fractional amount of a desired metal contained in the material collected in the froth.
• Hydrocarbon means herein an organic compound containing carbon and hydrogen atoms.
• the term hydrocarbon includes the following organic com- pounds: alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, cycloalkanes, cycloalkenes, cycloalkynes, aromatics, aliphatic and-cycloaliphatic aralkanes and alkyl-substituted aromatics.
• Aliphatic refers herein to straight- and branched-chain, and saturated and unsaturated, hydrocarbon compounds, that is, alkanes, alkenes or alkynes. Cycloaliphatic refers herein to satu ⁇ rated and unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbons, that is, cycloalkenes and cycloalkanes.
• Cycloalkane refers to an alkane contain ⁇ ing one, two, three or more cyclic rings.
• Cycloal- kene refers to mono-, di- and polycyclic groups containing one or more double bonds.
• Hydrocarbyl means herein an organic radical containing carbon and hydrogen atoms. The term hydro ⁇ carbyl includes the following organic radicals: alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, aliphatic and cycloaliphatic aralkyl and alkaryl.
• aryl refers herein to biaryl, biphenylyl, phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthrenyl, anthracenyl and two aryl groups bridged by an alkylene group.
• Alkaryl refers herein to an alkyl-, alkenyl- or alkynyl-substituted aryl substituent, wherein aryl is as- defined hereinbe ⁇ fore.
• Aralkyl means herein an alkyl group, wherein aryl is as defined hereinbefore.
• C l-20 alk y 1 includes straight- and branched- -chain methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl and eicosyl .groups.
• Halo means herein a chloro, bromo or iodo group.
• novel collector compositions of this invention are useful for the recovery by froth flota ⁇ tion of metal-containing sulfide minerals and sulfi ⁇ dized metal-containing oxide minerals from ores.
• An ore refers herein to material as it is taken out of the ground and includes the desired metal-containing minerals in admixture with the gangue.
• Gangue refers herein to that portion of the material which is of no value and needs to be separated from the desired metal- -containing minerals.
• metal-containing sulfide minerals are recovered.
• sulfide minerals contain ⁇ ing copper, nickel, lead, zinc or molybdenum are recov- ered.
• sulfide minerals containing copper are recovered.
• pre ⁇ ferred metal sulfide-containing minerals are those which have high natural hydrophobicity in the unoxi- dized state.
• hydrophobicity in the unoxi- dized state applies to a freshly ground mineral or a mineral having a fresh surface which demonstrates a tendency to float without collector addition.
• compositions for which these compositions are useful include sulfide mineral ores containing copper, zinc, molybdenum, cobalt, nickel,- lead, arsenic, silver, chromium, gold, platinum, uranium, and mixtures thereof.
• metal-containing sulfide minerals which may be concentrated -by froth flotation using the pro ⁇ cess of this invention include copper-bearing minerals such as, for example, covellite (CuS), chalcocite
• Preferred metal-containing sulfide minerals include molybdenite (MoS 2 ), chalopyrite (CuFeS 2 ) galena (Pbs), sphalerite (ZnS), bornite (Cu 5 FeS 4 ) and pentlandite [(FeNi) g S ft ] .
• Sulfidized metal-containing oxide minerals are minerals which are treated with a sulfidization chemical, so as to give such minerals sulfide mineral characteristics, so the minerals can be recovered in froth flotation using collectors which recover sulfide minerals. Sulfidization results in oxide minerals having sulfide characteristics. Oxide minerals are sulfidized by contact with compounds which react with the minerals to form a sulfur bond or-affinity. Such methods are well-known in the art. Such compounds include sodium hydrosulfide, sulfuric acid and related sulfur containing salts such as sodium sulfide.
• Sulfidized oxide minerals for which this process is useful include oxide minerals containing copper, aluminum, iron, titanium, tungsten, molybdenum, magnesium, chromium, nickel, manganese, tin, uranium, and mixtures thereof.
• the collectors of this invention can be used in any concentration which gives the- desired recovery of the desired minerals.
• the concen- tration used is dependent upon the particular minerals to be recovered, the grade of the ore to be subjected to the froth flotation process, the desired quality of the mineral to be recovered, and the particular mineral which is being recovered.
• the collectors of this invention are used in concentrations of 0.001 to 1.0 kg per metric ton of ore, more preferably between 0.010 and 0.2 kg of collector per metric ton of ore to be subjected to froth flotation.
• Frothers are preferably used in the froth flotation process of this invention. Any frother well-known in the art, which results in the recovery of the desired mineral is suitable.
• Frothers useful in this invention include any frothers known in the art which give the recovery of the desired mineral. Examples of such frothers include C 5 _ Q alcohols, pine oils, cresols, C., 4 alkyl ethers of polypropylene glycols, dihydroxylates of polypropylene glycols, glycols, fatty acids, soaps, alkylaryl sulfo- nates, and the like. Furthermore, blends of such frothers may also be used. All frothers which are suitable for beneficiation of ores by froth flotation can be used in this invention.
• collectors of this invention can be used in mixtures with other collectors well-known in the art.
• Collectors known in the art, which may be used in admixture with the collectors of this invention are those which will give the desired recovery of the desired mineral:
• Examples of collectors useful in this invention include- dialkyl thioureas, dialkyl and diaryl thiophosphonyl chlorides, dialkyl and diaryl dithio- phosphonates, alkyl mercaptans, xanthogen formates, xanthate esters, mercapto benzothiazoles, fatty acids and salts of fatty acids, alkyl sulfuric acids and salts thereof, alkyl and alkaryl sulfonic acids and salts thereof, alkyl phosphoric acids and salts thereof, alkyl and aryl phosphoric acids and salts thereof, sulfosuccinates, sulfosuccinamates, primary amines, secondary
• Bags of homogeneous ore containing chal- copyrite and molybdenite minerals were prepared with each bag containing 1200 g.
• the rougher flotation procedure was to grind a 1200 g charge with 800 ml of tap water for 14 minutes in a ball mill having a mixed ball charge (to produce approximately a 13 percent plus 100 mesh grind). This pulp was transferred to an Agitair 1500 ml flotation cell outfitted with an auto ⁇ mated paddle removal system. The slurry pH was adjusted to 10.2 using lime. - No further pH adjustments were made during the test.
• the standard frother was methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC). A four-stage rougher flo ⁇ tation scheme was then followed.
• MIBC methyl isobutyl carbinol
• STAGE 2 Collector 0.0021 kg/metric ton MIBC 0.005 kg/metric ton condition - 0.5 minute float - collect concentrate for 1.5 minutes
• STAGE 3 Collector 0.0016 kg/metric ton MIBC 0.005 kg/metric ton condition - 0.5 minute float - collect concentrate for 2.0 minutes
• the 95 percent confidence region of statistical error associated with the Cu R-7 experimental values in Table I is ⁇ 0.010.
• the statistical range of R-7 value for Cu in Table I associated with potassium amyl xanthate is 0.776 ⁇ 0.010 or 0.766 to 0.786.
• the statistical error associated with the Mo R-7 experi ⁇ mental values in Table I is ⁇ 0.015. Applying these limits clearly indicates the recoveries of Cu and Mo at 7 minutes with the collector blends of this invention exceed the 7-minute recoveries that would be expected from a weighted average effect of the individual compo ⁇ nent used alone; synergism has occurred.
• a copper/nickel ore containing chalcopyrite, pentlandite, and pyrrhotite minerals was floated using 0.0028 kg/metric ton of DOWFROTH® 1263 frother and a collector dosage of 0.28 kg/metric ton.
• A. series of samples were drawn fro the feeders to plant rougher bank and placed in buckets to give approximately 1200 g of solid. The contents of each bucket were then used to perform a time-recovery profile on a Denver cell using an automated paddle and constant pulp level device with individual concentrates selected at 1.0, 3.0, 6.0 and 12.0 minutes. The chemicals were added with a condition time of one minute before froth removal was started. There was no stage addition of reagents. Individual concentrates were dried, weighed, ground and statistically representative samples pre ⁇ pared for assay. The results are compiled in Table II.
• Stage I a copper/lead/silver rougher was used, and in Stage II a zinc rougher was used.
• Stage II a zinc rougher was used.
• 1.5 g/kg Na 2 C0 3 was added (pH of 9 to 9.5), followed by the addition of collector(s) .
• the pulp was then conditioned for 5 minutes with air and agitation. This was followed by a 2-minute condition period with agitation only. MIBC frother was then added (standard dose of 0.015 ml/kg). Concentrate was collected for 5 minutes of flotation and labeled as copper/lead rougher concentrate.
• the Stage II flotation consisted of adding 0.5 kg/metric ton of CuS0 4 to the cell remains of Stage I.
• the pH was than adjusted to 10.5 with lime addition. This was followed by a condition period of 5 minutes with agitation only. pH was then rechecked and adjusted back to 10.5 with lime. At this point, the collector(s) were added, followed by a 5-minute condition period with agitation only. MIBC frother was then added
• the Zn flotation (Stage II) of Run 3 compared to the Zn flotation (Stage II) of Run 2 also illustrates the obvious increase in the Zn recovery associated with the blend versus that of the component used alone.
• the 95 percent confidence level of statistical error for Zn is ⁇ 0.01.
• the ground slurry was transferred to a Agitar 1500 ml flotation cell outfit ⁇ ted with an automated paddle removal system. The slurry was agitated at 1150 rpm and the pH adjusted to the appropriate value (shown in Table IV) with either more lime or hydrochloric acid
• the collector(s) were added to the float cell (45 g/metric ton), followed by a condi- tioning time of one minute, at which time the frother, DOWFROTH 250 was added (34.4 g/metric ton).
• the air to • the float cell was turned on at a rate of 4.5 liters/- minute and the automatic froth removal paddle was started. Samples of the froth were collected at 0.5, 1.5, 3.0, 5.0, and 8.0 minutes.
• THe 95 percent condifience level of statistical error for Mo recovery at 8 minutes is ⁇ 0.012.
• the collector blends of this invention provide Mo recoveries that significantly exceed those recoveries that would be expected from the individual components used alone.
• the Mo recovery of Run 3 clearly exceeds that expected from the weighted average of Runs 1 and 2. Synergism has occurred.

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• 1986
  • 1986-02-07 ZM ZM13/86A patent/ZM1386A1/xx unknown
  • 1986-02-14 PH PH33417A patent/PH22952A/en unknown
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  • 1986-02-17 ZA ZA861172A patent/ZA861172B/xx unknown
  • 1986-02-17 ZW ZW39/86A patent/ZW3986A1/xx unknown
  • 1986-02-18 WO PCT/US1986/000336 patent/WO1987000451A1/en active IP Right Grant
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• 1987
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  • 1987-03-11 RU SU4202192A patent/RU1831373C/ru active

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