GB553137A - Improvements in or relating to the concentration of phosphate minerals from their ores - Google Patents

Abstract

553,137. Concentrating ores. ABBEY, A. (Phosphate Recovery Corporation). Oct. 6, 1941, No. 12914. [Class 82 (ii)] A process for concentrating phosphate ores comprises treating an ore pulp in the presence of a negative-ion phosphate-collecting agent, treating the resulting rougher phosphate concentrate with a mineral acid, preferably sulphuric and thereafter treating it in the presence of a positive-ion silica-collecting agent to yield a final high grade phosphate concentrate. The treatments may be effected by froth flotation, tabling, or other means. The negative-ion agents may be fatty or resin acids and their soaps, naphthenic acids and their salts, sulpho fatty acids and their salts, acid esters of higher aliphatic alcohols and their salts, xanthates etc.; and the positive-ion agents may be higher aliphatic amines and their salts, esters of amino alcohols with higher fatty acids and their salts, higher alkyl-o-substituted isoureas and their salts, resin amines and their salts, higher aliphatic quaternary ammonium bases and their salts, higher alkyl pyridinium or quinolinium salts &c. and particularly dodecylamine or octadecylamine or their hydrochlorides or acetates. Froth flotation with the negative-ion agent, and in some cases with the positive-ion agent, may be carried out in presence of a mineral oil and an alkali, and in either case a suitable frother may be added.