JPS632659B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

The present invention relates to a foam milk selection method and a collector composition for use in foam milk selection. Foam screening extracts valuable minerals, especially from gangue minerals associated with these minerals within sulfide and oxide ores.
It is a commonly used method for separating, collecting and concentrating especially sulfide and oxide ores. It consists of the following conventional steps. The ore is crushed and then subjected to wet milling, whereby the ore particles are typically reduced to a -48+500 ASTM mesh with about 30-50% of the particles within the range of -200 mesh. The ore is formed into ore pulp by diluting it with water to about 20-50% solids by weight. Various foaming, conditioning and scavenging agents are added to the pulp. The pulp is then aerated to create air bubbles that rise to the pulp surface, and then the desired mineral particles stick to themselves thanks to the scavenger used, allowing the removal of these minerals in concentrated form. forgive. This concentrate can be further processed by various other equipment for economical and advantageous production of suitable metals. According to the present invention, when recovering copper valuables from copper ore by foam flotation using mercaptan as a scavenger, before adding the mercaptan scavenger to copper mineral pulp, the mercaptan is used as an emulsifier or The method is characterized by a step of intimately mixing with a wetting agent, thereby improving the dispersion of the mercaptan into the pulp. As used herein, "improving" shall mean that the mercaptans are more rapidly and thoroughly dispersed into the pulp. The emulsifier or wetting agent is soluble in water, and the mercaptan and the emulsifier or wetting agent can be mutually soluble, and the mixture is added to the pulp in the form of a solution. Mercaptans are alkyl mercaptans of the following formula: C _o H _2o+1 SH , where n is an integer from 12 to 16. The scavenger can consist of a mixture of alkyl mercaptans and the foam flotation can be carried out at a temperature where the mixture is liquid. The emulsifier or wetting agent can be a glycol, and the glycol has the following formula: ()...R ₁ --(O-R ₂ ) _n --OH, where R ₁ is phenyl, alkyl-substituted phenyl, alkyl, hydrogen or a saturated heterocyclic group,
R ₂ represents an alkylene group), and the polyglycol has a molecular weight of 50 to 2000. Polyglycol has the following formula: ()... R ₁ - (O-R ₃ ) _o - (O-R ₄ ) _p - OH (R ₁ in the formula is phenyl, alkyl-substituted phenyl, alkyl, hydrogen or saturated heterocycle With formula group ()
Same as defined in formula; R ₃ is −CH ₂ −CH ₂
--;R ₄ is

n and p are integers of 2 to 5). Polyglycol is polyethylene polypropylene glycol mono(4
-alkyl phenyl ether, in which R ₁ represents R ₅ -C ₆ H ₄ -, R ₅ is 1 to 10
polyethylene polypropylene glycol mono(4-alkyl phenyl) ether, represented by a normal or branched alkyl group having 4 carbon atoms, -C ₆ H ₄ - indicates disubstituted benzene; It can be a polyethylene polypropylene glycol ether of the formula: wherein R ₁ represents a normal or branched alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms. Alternatively, the polyglycol has the formula: (wherein R ₁ is R ₅ --C ₆ H ₄ --, R ₅ is a normal or branched alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, --C ₆ H ₄ -- is di-substituted benzene; R ₂ is —CH ₂ —
The _polyglycol can be a water-soluble polyethylene glycol mono(4-alkylphenyl) ether represented by the _formula Normal or branched alkyl group having an atom; R ₂ is -CH ₂ -
It can be a polyethylene glycol alkyl ether represented by CH ₂ -. Alternatively _, the polyglycol can be _a water-soluble _{polyoxyethylene} glycol of the formula _: () Formula: (R ₁ in the formula is hydrogen; R ₂ is

It can be a water-soluble polyoxypropylene glycol represented by the formula: The polyglycols preferably have a molecular weight within the range of 200-1000. The recovered copper valuables contain one or more minerals selected from the group consisting of oxides and sulfides. Copper values are resistant to collection from alkaline foam flotation and can be recovered from ores consisting of one or more minerals selected from the group consisting of barerite and cubanite. Mercaptan scavengers can be used in conjunction with other scavengers selected from the group consisting of xanthates, mercaptobenzothiazoles, dithiocarbamates, thionocarbamates, and dithiophosphates. If the other scavenger is a xanthate, the ratio between mercaptan and xanthate can be in the range of 8:3 to 8:4 on a weight basis. 0.01 to 0.5 Kg of mercaptan can be used for each ton of copper ore processed. Foam flotation can be carried out in several stages, with the mixture of mercaptan and emulsifier or wetting agent being added to the pulp in several stages. If flotation is carried out in several stages and a mixture of mercaptan and emulsifier or wetting agent is used together with other scavengers, the mixture of mercaptan and emulsifier or wetting agent is added to the other scavenger pulp. Preferably, it is first added to the pulp at a stage downstream of the stage in which it is first added. The mixture of mercaptan and emulsifier or wetting agent may consist of more than 50% mercaptan by volume, preferably from 80 to 90% mercaptan by volume. Further in accordance with the invention, a collector composition for use in the recovery of copper valuables from copper ores by foam flotation comprises a mercaptan and an emulsifier or wetting agent to improve the dispersion of the mercaptan in the copper mineral pulp. consisting of a mixture of agents. The emulsifier or wetting agent can be soluble in water and the composition is in the form of a solution of its components in each other. The mercaptan is an alkyl mercaptan represented by the following formula: C _o H _2o+1 SH where n is a number within the range of 12 to 16. The scavenger composition can consist of a mixture of alkyl mercaptans. _The emulsifier _or wetting agent can be a glycol, and _the glycol has the following _formula : or a saturated heterocyclic group;
R ₂ represents an alkylene group), and the polyglycol has a molecular weight within the range of 50 to 2000. Polyglycol has the following formula: ()... R ₁ - (O-R ₃ ) _o - (O-R ₄ ) _p - OH (R ₁ in the formula is the same as defined in formula (); R ₃ is ―CH ₂ ―CH ₂ ―;R ₄ is

[Formula] n and p are integers of 2 to 5). _{Polyglycol has the formula : _ _} or polyethylene polypropylene glycol mono(4-alkyl-phenyl) ether of the _formula (indicating benzene); or a branched alkyl group). Instead _{, the polyglycol has the formula :} Disubstituted benzene; R ₂ is -CH ₂ -
or polyglycol can be a water-soluble polyethylene glycol mono(4-alkyl phenyl) ether represented by the formula (indicating CH ₂ -): (wherein R ₁ is 1 to 12 carbon atoms) Normal or branched alkyl group having an atom; R ₂ is -CH ₂ -
It can be a polyethylene glycol alkyl ether represented by CH ₂ -. Alternatively _, the polyglycol can be _a water-soluble _{polyoxyethylene} glycol of the formula _: () Formula: (R ₁ in the formula is hydrogen; R ₂ is

It can be a water-soluble polyoxypropylene glycol represented by the formula: Polyglycols can have a molecular weight of 200-1000. Additionally, polyglycols contemplated by the inventor for use with mercaptans to form premixed scavengers according to the present invention are available from Wyandotte Chemical Corporation as RLURONICS or from Lissapols. Imperial Chemical Co., Ltd.
It consists of a blended polypropylene/polyethylene glycol of the type commercially available from Co., Ltd. Industries. These polyglycols have the following formula: Or (R ₁ in the formula is the same as defined in the formula ()). The mixture of mercaptan and emulsifier or wetting agent may consist of more than 50% mercaptan by volume, and preferably from 80 to 90% mercaptan by volume. In the specification, references to grades of mercaptans are intended to include mercaptans of the named grades of industrial purity or quality, ie 85-98% or higher. Next, the invention will be explained with reference to examples. Example 1 Northern Transvaal Province, South Africa
Phalaborwa in the Northern
Palabora Mining in the Transvaal Province of South Africa
In the same laboratory, 18
Potassium amylxanthate was used as a scavenger at concentrations in the range of ~20 g/ton, using a WEMCO laboratory flotation cell.
Flotation was carried out for 6 minutes at a pH of 8.3 in a floatation cell. The scavenger feed samples were 1,1,3-triethoxybutane (TEB) blowing agent at a concentration of 20 g/tonne and Hoechst South Africa Ltd. (TEB) at a concentration of 30 g/tonne.
(Proprietary) Limited and was pre-dosed into the rougher circuit with a foam stabilizer known as 41G. A copper recovery of 39.8% was achieved and the concentrate was 4.14% grade. Example 2 The procedure of Example 1 was repeated using the same sample and normal dodecyl mercaptan as scavenger at a concentration of 18 g/ton. A 44% copper recovery was achieved and the concentrate was 4.48% grade. Example 3 A mixture of n-dodecyl mercaptan and polyethylene glycol mono(4-alkyl phenyl) ether was used as a scavenger with a ratio of 95:5 by volume between mercaptan and polyglycol ether in the same sample. The procedure of Example 2 was repeated. Achieved 50.7% copper recovery and the concentrate was
It was at the 5.33% level. Example 4 The procedure of Example 1 was repeated with different tests of the mill parabolic scavenger feed samples used in Examples 1-3, and the scavenger feed samples were TEB.
The rough circuit was also predosed with a foaming agent and G41 stabilizer at the same concentration as in Example 1. The scavenger used was a mixture of normal dodecyl mercaptan and polyoxyethylene glycol, with the ratio between mercaptan and polyglycol being on a volume basis.
A copper recovery of 21.6% was achieved and the concentrate was in the 3.38% grade. Example 5 The procedure of Example 4 was repeated with the same sample using potassium amylxanthate as the scavenger. Copper recovery was 8-10% and 1.7-1.94% concentrate grade. Example 6 The procedure of Example 4 was followed on the same sample using normal dodecyl mercaptan as the scavenger. A copper recovery of 17-19% was achieved and the concentrate was
It was in the 3.3-3.5% range. Examples 1 to 6 show that the specific mixture of polyglycol ether or polyglycol and mercaptan was prepared from potassium amylxanthate itself.
or show superiority to mercaptan itself. Example 7 Pure n-dodecyl mercaptan, potassium amyl xanthate (PAX) in various proportions
and various mixtures of n-dodecyl mercaptan and polyethylene glycol (4-alkylphenyl) ether were subjected to comparative testing as scavengers with various parabolic scavenger feed samples. As in the previous example, the parabolic scavenger feed sample contained TEB at the same concentration as in Example 1.
Mill samples pre-dosed with foaming agent and 41G stabilizer were tested. As in Examples 1 to 6, the polyethylene glycol mono(4
-alkyl phenyl) ethers consisted of commercially available mixtures of closely related polyglycols. The procedure of Example 1 was used and the scavenger dosage in g/ton was kept constant. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

【table】

[Table] In general, the results of Example 7 show that the use of a scavenger consisting of a mercaptan and polyglycol premix resulted in better selectivity and better recovery when compared to pure dodecyl mercaptan, and especially when compared to PAX. Show guidance. EXAMPLE 8 Various mixtures of normal dodecyl mercaptan and polypropylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 425 were tested according to the procedure of Example 7 as scavengers with various feeds of Milparabolic scavenger feed samples, and then amyl A comparison was made with potassium xanthate and pure n-dodecyl mercaptan. The results are shown in Table 2 below.

【table】

TABLE As in Example 7, the best selectivity and recovery was obtained with the premixed mercaptan/glycol scavenger rather than pure mercaptan or PAX. Example 9 Normal dodecyl mercaptan and the following formula: is represented by Rohm and Haas Company (Rohm
& Haas Company) Triton X-100
It is commercially available as (TRITON X-100). The procedure of Example 8 was repeated with a constant dosage in parts by weight of a scavenger consisting of a mixture of alkyl (C ₈ ) phenyl decaethylene glycol ethers. The results are shown in Table 3.

【table】

Example 9 also shows that, in general, by using a premixed scavenger according to the invention consisting of a mercaptan/polyglycol mixture, comparable or better selectivity and/or recovery can be achieved compared to pure n-dodecyl mercaptan or pure n-dodecyl mercaptan. It can be obtained by using potassium amylxanthate. Example 10 For various other parabolic scavenger feed samples, normal dodecyl mercaptan,
Various polypropylene glycols and Hoechst
Flotanol C-7, a polyglycol composition commercially available from South Africa Ltd.
The procedure of Examples 7-9 was repeated using a scavenger mixture of (FLOTANOL C-7) at a constant dose per weight of 9 g/ton. The results are shown in Table 4, along with comparison results for pure dodecyl mercaptan and PAX. In some trials additional foaming agent was added at a dose of 4 g/ton as required to counteract the foam inhibition caused by n-dodecyl mercaptan. In Table 4, the average molecular weights of the glycols are indicated for glycols other than flotanol, and in each case the ratio of dodecyl mercaptan to glycol was 4:1.

【table】

[Table] The results of Example 10 show that the scavenger according to the present invention is PAX
or comparable to pure dodecyl mercaptan or provide good recovery. Example 11 The procedure of Example 10 was repeated using the Triton X-100 for delivery of the Milparabolic Scavenger feed sample using the same dosages and ratios. Triton X-100 was used as an additional blowing agent at 4 g/ton. The results are shown in Table 5.

Table: Better recovery was achieved with the dodecyl mercaptan/Triton X-100 premix than with mercaptan alone. Example 12 Monoalkyl (phenyl) ethylene glycol ether was used as the polyglycol and Dow Chemical Company (Dow Chemical Company) was used as the additional blowing agent.
Dow Floss 1012 from Chemical Company
While using a foaming agent commercially available as (DOW FROTH1012) at the required rate of 4 g/ton,
The procedures of Examples 10 and 11 were repeated for the delivery of the Milparabolic Scavenger feed sample. In each case, the volume ratio of dodecyl mercaptan to polyglycol in the mixed scavenger was 4:1. The results are shown in Table 6.

Table: Compared to PAX and pure mercaptan, comparable or better results were achieved with the mercaptan/polyglycol premix adjuvant. Example 13 Further testing was conducted according to Example 1 with a cell charge of approximately 2 Kg for feeding the Mill Parabolic Scavenger feed sample. The flotation time was 6 minutes in each case and the pulp had a PH of 8.3. The scavenger feed sample was predosed in the rough circuit with TEB foaming agent and 41G stabilizer. In this example, PAX is normal dodecyl mercaptan,
and dodecyl mercaptan and furotanol C-
It was compared with a mixture of 7. The results are shown in Table 7.
The TEB had a 4:1 ratio of mercaptan to flotanol C-7 in additional foaming agent if necessary, and the dosage of scavenger and additional foaming agent was tabulated in g/ton.

[Table] In this example, mercaptan/flotanol C
-7 Premix achieved recovery comparable to that of pure mercaptan. Example 14 Following the procedure of Example 13, PAX and normal dodecyl mercaptan were combined with dodecyl mercaptan and the following formula: The comparison was made with a mixture of polypropylene glycols represented by The results are shown in Table 8. Using a premixed scavenger of mercaptan and polyglycol, the molecular weight of polypropylene glycol is indicated in the table, the volume ratio of mercaptan to glycol is 4:1, and the dosage of scavenger and added foaming agent is indicated in the table.

TABLE This example shows that the concentration and recovery of a premixed scavenger according to the invention is comparable to pure dodecyl mercaptan. Example 15 Following the procedure of Example 14, the
PAX and normal dodecyl mercaptan, dodecyl mercaptan and the following formula: A comparison was made with various mixtures of alkylpropylene glycols having the formula and commercially available from The Dow Chemical Company under the trademark Dow Floss. 9th result
Shown in the table.

TABLE In this example, the premixed scavenger according to the invention was shown to be comparable to pure dodecyl mercaptan. Example 16 The procedure of Example 15 was repeated using Triton X-100 as the polyglycol. As indicated in Example 9, Triton X-100 is a commercially available octylphenyl decaethylene glycol ether; It is shown together with a comparative test. In these tests, the premixed scavenger consisted of dodecyl mercaptan and polyglycol in a 95:5 ratio by volume.

[Table] This test confirmed that the recoveries and concentrations achieved with the premixed scavenger according to the invention are comparable to pure dodecyl mercaptan. Example 17 The procedure of Example 15 was repeated to compare PAX and pure dodecyl mercaptan with mixtures of various normal alkyl mercaptans and 425 molecular weight polypropylene glycol as scavengers. The results are shown in Table 11. In the table, the volume ratio of mercaptan to polyglycol was 4:1.

【table】

This example shows that the recoveries and concentrations achieved with other alkyl mercaptans mixed with polyglycols according to the invention are achieved when dodecyl mercaptan is used. Indicates that it is similar to these. Example 18 Laboratory foam flotation tests were conducted on various copper ore samples from different sources. Tests were conducted in a WEMCO laboratory flotation cell using pulp with a pH of 8.3. Each sample was subjected to laboratory flotation for 5 minutes, the first flotation using potassium amylxanthate as the scavenger, and the second flotation also for 5 minutes. In a second flotation, potassium amylxanthate was compared with pure dodecyl mercaptan, a mixture of dodecyl mercaptan and polypropylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 400, with a mercaptan to glycol ratio of 4:1 by volume. . All samples were ground in a laboratory rod mill for 10 minutes before flotation. The results of Example 18 show that the premixed mercaptan/mercaptan according to the invention
Polyglycol scavengers have been shown to be effective on ores from a variety of sources.

【table】

[Table] Example 19 Additionally, using Uemcocel with a pH of 8.3 and using a Parabolic Mining Co. feed of Mill Scavenger feed pre-dosed with TEB scavenger and 41G stabilizer at the dosages in Example 1. A laboratory foam flotation test was conducted with a flotation time of 6 minutes. Potassium amylxanthate and n-dodecyl mercaptan are expressed by the following formula: It was compared with a mixture of tetrafurfuryl alcohol polyethylene glycol ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether and polyethylene glycol monolaurate represented by: In each case mercaptan and glycol were mixed in a volume ratio of 4:1. The test results are shown in Table 13.

【table】

TABLE Example 19 shows that another example of a premixed scavenger according to the invention is effective. PH
8.3 with a flotation time of 6 minutes. In these tests, potassium amylxanthate as a scavenger was compared with pure n-dodecyl mercaptan and a mixture of dodecyl mercaptan and polypropylene glycol with an average molecular weight of 400. Results first
Shown in Table 14. If necessary to neutralize foam control, polypropylene glycol can be used as the added foaming agent, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the mercaptan/polyglycol premix scavenger compared to the same doses of mercaptan and polyglycol added separately. It could be compared to glycol.

Table: Example 21 The procedure of Example 20 was repeated using FLOTANOL C-7 as the polyglycol and for another run of the Mil Parabolic Scavenger feed sample. The results are shown in Table 15.

【table】

Table: Example 22 The procedure of Examples 20 and 21 was repeated for another run of the Milparabolic scavenger feed sample using Dowfloss 1012 as the polyglycol. The results are shown in Table 16.

Table: Experiments 20-22 demonstrate the importance of premixing polyglycols and mercaptans to achieve good recovery due to good dispersion of mercaptans in the pulp when compared to adding polyglycols separately. prove that. These examples show that the mercaptan/polyglycol premix scavenger improves recovery because it appears to be synergistic in achieving greater recovery than the use of the same amount of mercaptan scavenger and polyglycol. This proves that polyglycol has more than just foaming power. Furthermore, the addition of additional foaming agent in Example 20, where PAX was used as a scavenger, and the addition of polyglycol in Example 20 led to foam suppression with a reduction in recovery from 15% to 12.6%. It is shown that it is not only the foaming power of polyglycols that improves the general recovery for any scavenger, as in the case of PAX as a scavenger. The present invention has as an advantage the fact that improved dispersion of mercaptans within the aqueous pulp is achieved with improved mineral recovery and increased mineral grade, ie improved selectivity. Furthermore, the foam inhibition caused by mercaptans is substantially reduced. Another advantage is that since polyglycols are cheaper materials than mercaptans, the process is inexpensive, while at the same time resulting in increased recovery of copper. Also, the normal foam suppression caused by mercaptans is eliminated or at least reduced, simplifying plant operating procedures. In this regard, in plant-level production delivery,
When using pure alkyl mercaptan as the scavenger and TEB as the foaming agent, the first cell of the circuit to which the mercaptan is added (in addition to the foam suppression caused by the mercaptan) achieves little or no flotation. First, the cells used to disperse the mercaptans within the pulp thus acted solely as conditioning agents. However, by premixing a small proportion of polyglycol into the mercaptan prior to dosing, the dispersion of the mercaptan into the pulp takes place rapidly enough for foam recovery to take place within the cell, leading to efficient plant utilization. . Regarding the application of the invention in plants, it is important to know what polyglycols and what ratio of mercaptans to polyglycols in the scavenger and what dosage is best for a particular ore. It should be noted that it is impossible to predict with any precision. Thus, as is commonly practiced in the art, pilot plant trials are conducted to determine the best polyglycol, the best ratio in the premix, and the best dosage. These values are also varied over time to account for variations in the ore being processed. The above example shows, however, that the mercaptan is a significantly better scavenger and its effectiveness is unexpectedly and synergistically improved by premixing with a small volume proportion of polyglycol. Examples also generally show improved recovery and/or improved recovery when compared to pure mercaptans.
or that there is always a premix mercaptan/polyglycol ratio that leads to selectivity. In this regard, "pure" as used in the examples with respect to mercaptans does not mean that the mercaptans are analytically pure. Alkyl mercaptans having 12 to 16 carbon atoms are preferred because they are liquid and have an acceptable slope compared to shorter chain mercaptans, and normal dodecyl mercaptan is readily available. Therefore, it is expected that it will be used generally. However, if other alkyl mercaptans or mixtures thereof with acceptable slopes are readily available at competitive prices, they can be used as well.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. By foam flotation from copper ore using an alkyl mercaptan having the formula: C _o H _2o+1 -SH (wherein n is an integer from 12 to 16) as a scavenger. In the method for recovering copper valuables, before adding a mercaptan scavenger to the copper ore pulp, the mercaptan is converted into the following general formula: () R ₁ - (OR ₂ ) _n - OH (formula R ₁ in the middle is phenyl, alkyl substituted phenyl,
a group or an atom selected from the group consisting of alkyl, hydrogen and saturated heterocyclic groups; R ₂ represents an alkylene group; m is an integer of at least 2) and has a molecular weight of 50 to 2000. glycol, and (b) the following general formula: () R ₁ - (OR ₃ ) _o - (OR ₄ ) _p - OH [wherein R ₁ has the same meaning as in the above formula (); R ₃ is —CH ₂ CH ₂ —; R ₄ represents the formula; and n and p are integers of 2 to 5] and a polyglycol selected from the above are thoroughly mixed,
and the mixture contains the mercaptan at 50% (V/
V) A method for recovering copper valuables from copper ore by foam flotation, characterized by including the steps described above. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the recovered copper valuables are selected from the group consisting of oxides and sulfides. 3. A patent characterized in that the mercaptan scavenger is used together with other scavengers selected from the group consisting of xanthogen hydrochloride, mercaptobenzothiazole, dithiocarbamate, thionocarbamate and dithiophosphate. The method according to claim 1. 4. The other scavenger is xanthate,
4. Process according to claim 3, characterized in that the weight ratio between mercaptan and xanthate is in the range 8:3 to 8:4. 5. Process according to claim 4, characterized in that the foam flotation is carried out in several stages and the mixture of mercaptans and polyglycols is added to the pulp in some of the stages mentioned above. . 6. Foam flotation is carried out in multiple stages, characterized in that the mixture of mercaptans and polyglycols is first added to the pulp at a stage downstream of the stage in which other scavengers are first added to the pulp. The method according to claim 3. 7 0.01 to 0.5 per ton for ore processed
2. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that mercaptans within the Kg range are used. _{8. The polyglycol has the formula :} indicates substituted benzene; and n
and p are both integers within the range of 2 to 5. 9 The polyglycol has the formula: (wherein R ₁ represents a normal or branched alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms; and n and p
2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the polyethylene polypropylene glycol ether is a polyethylene polypropylene glycol ether, both of which are integers within the range of 2 to 5. 10 The polyglycol has the formula: (wherein R ₁ is R ₅ --C ₆ H ₄ --, R ₅ is a normal or branched alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and --C ₆ H ₄ -- is Substituted benzene; R ₂ is -CH ₂ -
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the water-soluble polyethylene glycol mono(4-alkylphenyl) ether has CH ₂ -. 11 The polyglycol has the formula: (wherein R ₁ is a normal or branched alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms; R ₂ is -CH ₂ -
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the polyethylene glycol alkyl ether has CH ₂ -. 12 The polyglycol is a water-soluble polyoxyethylene glycol having the formula: (wherein R ₁ is hydrogen; R ₂ is -CH ₂ -CH ₂ -) 1
The method described in section. 13. The polyoxypropylene glycol according to claim 1, wherein the polyglycol is a water-soluble polyoxypropylene glycol having the formula: (wherein R ₁ is hydrogen; R ₂ is [formula]) Method. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the mercaptan scavenger is present in the mercaptan and polyglycol mixture in an amount ranging from 70 to about 95% by volume of the mixture. 15 Alkyl mercaptan having the formula: C _o H _2o+1 —SH (in the formula, n is an integer from 12 to 16) and (a) the following general formula: () R ₁ —(OR ₂ ) _n —OH (In the formula, R ₁ is phenyl, alkyl-substituted phenyl,
a group or an atom selected from the group consisting of alkyl, hydrogen and saturated heterocyclic groups; R ₂ represents an alkylene group; m is an integer of at least 2) and has a molecular weight of 50 to 2000. glycol, and (b) the following general formula: () R ₁ - (OR ₃ ) _o - (OR ₄ ) _p - OH [wherein R ₁ has the same meaning as in the above formula (); R ₃ is -CH ₂ - CH ₂ -; R ₄ represents the formula; and n and p are integers of 2 to 5], and the mercaptan is a mixture of polyglycols selected from the group consisting of is 50 in volume of mixture
A scavenger composition for use in foam flotation processes, characterized in that it consists of a mixture in an amount within the range of % or more. 16. A scavenger composition according to claim 15, characterized in that the mercaptan and polyglycol are mutually soluble and the composition is in the form of a solution of these components. 17. The scavenger composition according to claim 15, characterized in that the scavenger composition consists of a mixture of the alkyl mercaptans. 18 The polyglycol has the formula: (wherein R ₁ is R ₅ -C ₆ H ₄ -, R ₅ is a normal or branched alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and -C ₆ H ₄ - is a di-substituted 16. The scavenger composition according to claim 15, which is polyethylene polypropylene glycol mono(4-alkylphenyl) ether having benzene). 19. Claim 15, characterized in that the polyglycol is a polyethylene polypropylene glycol ether having the formula: (wherein R ₁ represents a normal or branched alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms) The scavenger composition described. 20 The polyglycol has the formula: (wherein R ₁ is R ₅ -C ₆ H ₄ -, R ₅ is a normal or branched alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and -C ₆ H ₄ - is a di-substituted Benzene; R ₂ is -CH ₂ -
16. The scavenging agent composition according to claim 15, which is a water-soluble polyethylene glycol mono(4-alkylphenyl) ether having CH ₂ -. 21 The polyglycol has the formula: (wherein R ₁ is a normal or branched alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms; R ₂ is -CH ₂ -
16. The scavenging agent composition according to claim 15, which is a polyethylene glycol alkyl ether having CH ₂ -. 22 Claim 15, characterized in that the polyglycol is a water-soluble polyoxyethylene glycol having the formula: (wherein R ₁ is hydrogen; R ₂ represents -CH ₂ - CH ₂ -)
The scavenging agent composition described in . 23 Claim 1, wherein the polyglycol is a water-soluble polyoxypropylene glycol having the formula: (wherein R ₁ is hydrogen; R ₂ is [formula])
The scavenger composition according to item 5. 24. The scavenger composition according to claim 15, wherein the polyglycol has a molecular weight within the range of 200 to 1000. 25. A scavenger composition according to claim 15, characterized in that the mixture of mercaptan and polyglycol consists of 70 to 95% by volume of mercaptan. 26. A scavenger composition according to claim 15, characterized in that the mixture of mercaptan and polyglycol consists of 80 to 90% mercaptan by volume.