US1801317A - Separation of minerals by flotation - Google Patents

Description

Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK G. MOSES, OF NEW YORK, RAYMOND W. HESS, OF BUFFALO, AND ROBERT L. PERKINS, OF EAST AURORA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THE BARRETT COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY SEPARATION OF MINERALS BY FLOTATION m Drawing. Application filed May 20,

This invention relates to the separation of minerals and the concentration of ores by flotation processes, and is particularly directed to such separation and concentration carried out with the utilization of certain organic sulfur bodies or compounds as flotation or mineral collecting agents.

According to the present invention, improved results' can be obtained in the separation of minerals and the concentration of ores by carrying out the flotation operation with the addition to the ore or mineral pulp of a mercaptothiodiazole compound, partic-' ularly a mercapto-l :2 -thiodiazoie compound characterized by the formula wherein R denotes a monovalent hydrocarbonradical which may contain substituents, and particularly denotes an aryl radical, more especially of the benzene series. The hydrogen atom of the mercapto group, i. e., the group,SH, may be replaced by a metal to form a metal salt. It will be understood that sa-id metallic salts are comprehended Within the present invention. The flotation agents of the present invention may be prepared by methods described in the chemical literature.

operation. For example, it may be introduced in the free state or as a salt into the mill in which the ore is being ground, or it may be dissolYed, suspended or dispersed in any suitable solvent or, dispersing agent as, for example, in one or more of the usual flotation oils or oil mixtures, or in any suitable organic solvent or medium, or in water or in an alkali or alkaline reagent, and the resulting mixture incorporated with the ore or mineral pulp. While the agents of the present invention show marked action as flotation or mineral collecting a ents'in ore concentration, they in genera exhibit insuificient 1927. Serial No. 193,057.

be carried out in any suitable apparatus, for

example, those of the pneumatic type such as the Callow cell, or those where the air is incorporated with the pulp by agitation such as the J anney apparatus, or the like.

It is of advantage in some cases, as with certain copper ores, to subject the ore pul to the action of an amount of alkali sufliclent to give it an alkaline reaction before subjecting it to flotation with the aid of the flotation agents of the present invention. The alkali may be caustic alkali such as caustic soda, or an alkaline salt such as soda ash, or it may be calcium oxide or hydrate.

In the differential separation of various minerals, such as zinc blende from associated minerals, the presence of an alkali metal cyanide, or of copper sulfate or other salts, is sometimes advantageous.

The amount of flotation agent required to be used in the flotation rocess will vary, it depending partly on the character and composition of theore, partly on the particular mercaptothiodiazole compound employed, and partly on other factors. In general, onesixth to one-half pound of the flotation agent. per ton of'ore will be suflicient. Larger or smaller amounts of this, however, can be used.

Achanicalapparatus. tated for20 minutes 1 h o her Wecaimp to pass a LO- mesh screen. The ground was diluted with-sufficient water to -give a inixture icontainin about 16 percent solids and subjecto'd' to otation ina 'Janney mehe mi turm a 'a during which time about 0108 parts of pine oil was introduced. 67.3

parts of concentrate assaying 8.521 percent .copper was'obtained'whichis *a recovery in .the concentrate pf 84.8 percent of the copper,

originally present in the heads. The tailings assayed 0.24 percent copper.

The,present-invention isof moreor less;

general-application to the treatment of vam 'rious kinds of mmeralsubstances, both naturaland. artificial, by flotation.

It will thus be noted that the present invention contemplates the utilization as flotation agents in the separation of minerals and the concentration of ores of mercaptothiodiafzole compounds; that said flotation agents ,may be' incorporated in or with the ore or .mineral pulp at any suitable timeor in any suitable manner; thatthey may be used in the free' state or'as salts or in admixture with one another or in solution,-suspen'sion or dispersion any. suitablesolvent' or medium; and h'a't they: may. beuused in conjunction flotationagents or with frothing agents, or with both., I I J i It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the useqof the particular agents or ingredients mentioned in the example and that other agents, particularly other flotation agents of the class specified, can be similarl used. i

with the following probablefonnula-z a tire wherein R denotes a hydrocarbon radical which may contain substituents, and subjecting the resulting mixture to a frotlrflotation operation.

3. In effecting the separation of minerals,

the process which comprises incorporating with the mineral pulp a mercaptothiodliazole compound correspondin in the 1 free: state with the following proba le formula:

where R signifies an aryl radical or group, and subjecting the resulting mixture to a froth flotation operation.

the process which comprises incorporating withthe mineral pulp a mercaptothiodiazole compound corresponding in the freestate with the probable formula;

wherein R denotesan aromatic hydrocarbon radical of the benzene series which maycontain substituents, and subjecting the resulting mixture to a froth flotation operation.

"a. In effecting the separation of minerals,

til-Ineffecting the separation of minerals,

the process which comprises incorporating with "the mineral pulp 3-phenyl-V5:-mercapto 1: 2 l-thiodiazole, and subjecting the resulting mixture to a froth flotation operation.

'6. In effecting the separation of minerals,-

the process which comprises incorporating with the mineral pulp a mercaptothiodiazole which in thelfree state embodies within-its composition the following probable groupmg: i A.

' 'C-I-N\ L go-s4: v

and. subjecting the resulting mixture to a froth flotation operation.

7. In effecting the concentration of a copper. sulfide ore, the process which comprises subjectingapulp of the ore to a froth flotation operation in the presence of a mercaptothiodiazole.

8. In effecting the concentration of a copper sulfide ore, the process which comprises subjecting a pulp of the ore to a froth flotation operation in the presence of a mercaptothiodiazole which in the freestate embodies within its composition the following prob-- able grouping:

' "Essa 9. In effecting the concentration of a copper sulfide ore, the process which comprises "subjecting a pulp of the ore to a froth flotation operation in the presenceof a Inercaptothiodiazole having in the free state the following probable formula:

'R-C-N\ o-sn I wherein R denotes an aryl group.

10. In effecting the concentration of a cop per sulfide ore, the process which comprises subjecting a. pulp of the ore to a froth flotation operation in the presence of a meroaptothiodiazole having in the free state the following probable formula:

In testimony whereof we affix our signatu-res.

FREDERICK G. MOSES. RAYMOND W. HESS.

ROBERT L. PERKINS.