Abstract:
Methods for purifying one or more value materials are provided. The method can include contacting an aqueous mixture comprising a value material and a contaminant with a dispersant and a depressant to produce a treated mixture. A weight ratio of the dispersant to the depressant can be from about 1:1 to about 30:1. The method can also include recovering a purified product comprising the value material from the treated mixture. The purified product can have a reduced concentration of the contaminant relative to the aqueous slurry.
Abstract:
A process is provided for separation of at least one metal sulfide from a mixed sulfide concentrate. The process may comprise: subjecting the mixed sulfide concentrate to flotation in which at least one sulfide comprising antimony, arsenic and a first metal is floated and at least one sulfide comprising a second metal is depressed. The flotation yields a first metal concentrate having the at least one sulfide comprising antimony, arsenic and the first metal and a second metal concentrate having the at least one sulfide comprising the second metal. The first metal concentrate is leached to yield a further concentrate and a leach solution. The further concentrate comprises the first metal and the leach solution comprises soluble antimony and soluble arsenic. The process may further comprise oxidizing the leach solution to yield an antimony precipitate and an arsenic solution, and forming a stable arsenic compound from the arsenic solution.
Abstract:
A method for improving the rheological properties of mineral slurry comprising adding a copolymeric dispersing agent to the slurry to disperse silicate minerals. Also disclosed is a method for flotating mineral slurry.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a flotation agent for phosphate ore, comprising at least one fatty acid and at least one sarcosinate of the formula (I) wherein R is a C7 to C21 alkyl or alkenyl group, which sarcosinate may be present in the form of a cation derived therefrom caused by protonation of the nitrogen atom, wherein the amount of fatty acid is from 70 to 99 wt.-%, and wherein the amount of the sarcosinate of the formula (I) is from 1 to 30 wt.-%.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method of producing fatty acid esters of polyoxyalkylene glycerol ethers. The method comprises reacting an alkylene oxide or oxides directly with a mixture of a natural fat or oil, water and a catalyst. The method of the invention can avoid the complicatedness encountered in the prior art production processes and give polyoxyalkylene glycerol ether fatty acid esters excellent in surfactant performance.
Abstract:
Kaolin clays are conditioned for the removal of colored titaniferous impurities by (A) first mixing the kaolin clay with a collector to condition the impurities, in the absence of a dispersant, but in the presence of sufficient water to yield a mixture having a solids content of at least 65 percent by weight and (B) then deflocculating the kaolin clay mixture at a pH of at least 4.0 with a dispersant in amounts sufficient to yield a kaolin clay slurry which is suitable for subsequent processing to remove colored titaniferous impurities.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a process for the recovery of micas by flotation starting with slurried ore from which the fines have been optionally removed, comprising a stage of bringing the said slurry into contact with an appropriate cationic collector, followed by an actual flotation stage and recovery of the supernatant formed for subsequent treatment and optional rewashing, characterized in that it is carried out at a pH higher than 6 and in that the stage of bringing the said slurry into contact with the cationic collector is preceded by a stage of bringing the said slurry into contact with an activating agent chosen from soluble metal salts.The invention also relates to the micas obtained by the process.
Abstract:
There is disclosed a process for purifying a calcium carbonate-containing mineral which process comprises the following steps:a) mixing the calcium carbonate-containing mineral with water and a dispersing agent to form a suspension containing from 60% to 80% by weight of the dry mineral;b) comminuting the suspension of calcium carbonate-containing mineral prepared in step a) to give a product containing not more than 5% by weight of particles which are retained on a sieve having a nominal aperture of 53 microns and not more than 50% by weight of particles which are smaller than 2 microns e.s.d.;c) subjecting the suspension containing from 60% to 80% by weight of the dry comminuted mineral prepared in step b) to froth flotation using a collector for discoloring impurities which colletor comprises a cation containing at least one long chain alkyl group having from 10 to 24 carbon atoms, to yield an underflow product containing the calcium carbonate-containing mineral from which substantially all discoloring impurities have been removed; andd) further comminuting the underflow product of step c) to give a material of which at least 40% by weight of the particles have an equivalent spherical diameter smaller than 2 microns.
Abstract:
Method of treating a clay to remove therefrom titanium mineral impurities comprising the steps of mixing an aqueous clay with a collector for the titanium mineral impurities, a reducing agent, and, if needed, an activator preferably comprising a water-soluble ferrous salt; conditioning the resulting mixture of aqueous clay slurry, collector, reducing agent and activator to dissipate therein at least 25 horsepower hours of energy per ton of solids; subjecting the conditioned mixture to froth flotation and removing titanium impurities with the froth; and recovering clay having a reduced titanium minerals impurities content. The method includes the case where the activator is a ferrous salt formed in situ from iron impurities in the clay formed by adding said reducing agent in place of some or all of added activator.
Abstract:
A method of treating a clay to remove therefrom titanium mineral impurities comprising the steps of mixing an aqueous slurry of said clay having a high solids content with an activator and a collector for the titanium mineral impurities; conditioning the aqueous clay slurry at said high solids content for a time sufficient to dissipate therein at least 25 horsepower hours of energy per ton of solids; adding to the conditioned aqueous clay slurry a polyacrylate salt deflocculant; subjecting the conditioned aqueous clay slurry undiluted containing the polyacrylate salt deflocculant to a froth flotation process and removing the titanium impurities with the froth; and recovering clay having a reduced titanium minerals impurities content.