US2012609A - Flotation process - Google Patents
Flotation process Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US2012609A US2012609A US669199A US66919933A US2012609A US 2012609 A US2012609 A US 2012609A US 669199 A US669199 A US 669199A US 66919933 A US66919933 A US 66919933A US 2012609 A US2012609 A US 2012609A
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- alcohols
- alcohol
- flotation
- agents
- carbon atoms
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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- 238000005188 flotation Methods 0.000 title description 13
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title description 9
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 title description 8
- 150000001298 alcohols Chemical class 0.000 description 23
- 239000008396 flotation agent Substances 0.000 description 12
- 125000004432 carbon atom Chemical group C* 0.000 description 11
- 229910052500 inorganic mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 description 10
- 239000011707 mineral Substances 0.000 description 10
- 150000002191 fatty alcohols Chemical class 0.000 description 8
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 8
- 229920006395 saturated elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 8
- 239000003925 fat Substances 0.000 description 7
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 6
- 238000009291 froth flotation Methods 0.000 description 6
- 235000014113 dietary fatty acids Nutrition 0.000 description 5
- 229930195729 fatty acid Natural products 0.000 description 5
- 239000000194 fatty acid Substances 0.000 description 5
- 150000004665 fatty acids Chemical class 0.000 description 5
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethanol Chemical compound CCO LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 4
- 150000003138 primary alcohols Chemical class 0.000 description 4
- -1 turpineol Substances 0.000 description 4
- OKKJLVBELUTLKV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Methanol Chemical compound OC OKKJLVBELUTLKV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 239000007900 aqueous suspension Substances 0.000 description 3
- LQZZUXJYWNFBMV-UHFFFAOYSA-N dodecan-1-ol Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCCCCO LQZZUXJYWNFBMV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 235000021588 free fatty acids Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000003921 oil Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000010665 pine oil Substances 0.000 description 3
- QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N sulfuric acid Substances OS(O)(=O)=O QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- BBMCTIGTTCKYKF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 1-heptanol Chemical compound CCCCCCCO BBMCTIGTTCKYKF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfur Chemical compound [S] NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 125000000217 alkyl group Chemical group 0.000 description 2
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007795 chemical reaction product Substances 0.000 description 2
- MWKFXSUHUHTGQN-UHFFFAOYSA-N decan-1-ol Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCCO MWKFXSUHUHTGQN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- POULHZVOKOAJMA-UHFFFAOYSA-N dodecanoic acid Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCCCC(O)=O POULHZVOKOAJMA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- BXWNKGSJHAJOGX-UHFFFAOYSA-N hexadecan-1-ol Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCO BXWNKGSJHAJOGX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- SUMDYPCJJOFFON-UHFFFAOYSA-N isethionic acid Chemical compound OCCS(O)(=O)=O SUMDYPCJJOFFON-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- ZWRUINPWMLAQRD-UHFFFAOYSA-N nonan-1-ol Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCO ZWRUINPWMLAQRD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- GLDOVTGHNKAZLK-UHFFFAOYSA-N octadecan-1-ol Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCO GLDOVTGHNKAZLK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 150000002894 organic compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 159000000000 sodium salts Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 229910052717 sulfur Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000011593 sulfur Substances 0.000 description 2
- HLZKNKRTKFSKGZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N tetradecan-1-ol Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCCCCCCO HLZKNKRTKFSKGZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- XOLBLPGZBRYERU-UHFFFAOYSA-N tin dioxide Chemical compound O=[Sn]=O XOLBLPGZBRYERU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- KJIOQYGWTQBHNH-UHFFFAOYSA-N undecanol Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCCCO KJIOQYGWTQBHNH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- ALSTYHKOOCGGFT-KTKRTIGZSA-N (9Z)-octadecen-1-ol Chemical compound CCCCCCCC\C=C/CCCCCCCCO ALSTYHKOOCGGFT-KTKRTIGZSA-N 0.000 description 1
- JXNPEDYJTDQORS-HZJYTTRNSA-N (9Z,12Z)-octadecadien-1-ol Chemical compound CCCCC\C=C/C\C=C/CCCCCCCCO JXNPEDYJTDQORS-HZJYTTRNSA-N 0.000 description 1
- WRIDQFICGBMAFQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N (E)-8-Octadecenoic acid Natural products CCCCCCCCCC=CCCCCCCC(O)=O WRIDQFICGBMAFQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- KBPLFHHGFOOTCA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 1-Octanol Chemical compound CCCCCCCCO KBPLFHHGFOOTCA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- QTWJRLJHJPIABL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2-methylphenol;3-methylphenol;4-methylphenol Chemical compound CC1=CC=C(O)C=C1.CC1=CC=CC(O)=C1.CC1=CC=CC=C1O QTWJRLJHJPIABL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- LQJBNNIYVWPHFW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 20:1omega9c fatty acid Natural products CCCCCCCCCCC=CCCCCCCCC(O)=O LQJBNNIYVWPHFW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- DKGXIVRSAKPDHF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 6-chloro-3-methyl-1-phenylpyrimidine-2,4-dione Chemical compound O=C1N(C)C(=O)C=C(Cl)N1C1=CC=CC=C1 DKGXIVRSAKPDHF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- QSBYPNXLFMSGKH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 9-Heptadecensaeure Natural products CCCCCCCC=CCCCCCCCC(O)=O QSBYPNXLFMSGKH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 108091005950 Azurite Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 229910021532 Calcite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- RWSOTUBLDIXVET-UHFFFAOYSA-N Dihydrogen sulfide Chemical class S RWSOTUBLDIXVET-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000005639 Lauric acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019738 Limestone Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000005642 Oleic acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- ZQPPMHVWECSIRJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Oleic acid Natural products CCCCCCCCC=CCCCCCCCC(O)=O ZQPPMHVWECSIRJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 241000907663 Siproeta stelenes Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000021355 Stearic acid Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 150000007513 acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000013019 agitation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 125000003158 alcohol group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 150000007824 aliphatic compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 125000001931 aliphatic group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 229940053200 antiepileptics fatty acid derivative Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 125000004429 atom Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- TZCXTZWJZNENPQ-UHFFFAOYSA-L barium sulfate Chemical compound [Ba+2].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O TZCXTZWJZNENPQ-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 229910001570 bauxite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000010531 catalytic reduction reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229960000541 cetyl alcohol Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 150000001805 chlorine compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008602 contraction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 description 1
- ZSIAUFGUXNUGDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N hexan-1-ol Chemical compound CCCCCCO ZSIAUFGUXNUGDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 125000001183 hydrocarbyl group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- GPRLSGONYQIRFK-UHFFFAOYSA-N hydron Chemical compound [H+] GPRLSGONYQIRFK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 125000002887 hydroxy group Chemical group [H]O* 0.000 description 1
- YDZQQRWRVYGNER-UHFFFAOYSA-N iron;titanium;trihydrate Chemical compound O.O.O.[Ti].[Fe] YDZQQRWRVYGNER-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- QXJSBBXBKPUZAA-UHFFFAOYSA-N isooleic acid Natural products CCCCCCCC=CCCCCCCCCC(O)=O QXJSBBXBKPUZAA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000006028 limestone Substances 0.000 description 1
- JXNPEDYJTDQORS-UHFFFAOYSA-N linoleyl alcohol Natural products CCCCCC=CCC=CCCCCCCCCO JXNPEDYJTDQORS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229940043348 myristyl alcohol Drugs 0.000 description 1
- GOQYKNQRPGWPLP-UHFFFAOYSA-N n-heptadecyl alcohol Natural products CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCO GOQYKNQRPGWPLP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- QIQXTHQIDYTFRH-UHFFFAOYSA-N octadecanoic acid Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(O)=O QIQXTHQIDYTFRH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- OQCDKBAXFALNLD-UHFFFAOYSA-N octadecanoic acid Natural products CCCCCCCC(C)CCCCCCCCC(O)=O OQCDKBAXFALNLD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- ZQPPMHVWECSIRJ-KTKRTIGZSA-N oleic acid Chemical compound CCCCCCCC\C=C/CCCCCCCC(O)=O ZQPPMHVWECSIRJ-KTKRTIGZSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229940055577 oleyl alcohol Drugs 0.000 description 1
- XMLQWXUVTXCDDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N oleyl alcohol Natural products CCCCCCC=CCCCCCCCCCCO XMLQWXUVTXCDDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000002367 phosphate rock Substances 0.000 description 1
- 125000000075 primary alcohol group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000003441 saturated fatty acids Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 150000004671 saturated fatty acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000000344 soap Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008117 stearic acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229940012831 stearyl alcohol Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 150000003467 sulfuric acid derivatives Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000003786 synthesis reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- XOAAWQZATWQOTB-UHFFFAOYSA-N taurine Chemical compound NCCS(O)(=O)=O XOAAWQZATWQOTB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- GWBUNZLLLLDXMD-UHFFFAOYSA-H tricopper;dicarbonate;dihydroxide Chemical compound [OH-].[OH-].[Cu+2].[Cu+2].[Cu+2].[O-]C([O-])=O.[O-]C([O-])=O GWBUNZLLLLDXMD-UHFFFAOYSA-H 0.000 description 1
- 229940057402 undecyl alcohol Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 235000021122 unsaturated fatty acids Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 150000004670 unsaturated fatty acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000012991 xanthate Substances 0.000 description 1
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
- B03D1/008—Organic compounds containing oxygen
-
- 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
- B03D2203/04—Non-sulfide ores
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S209/00—Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
- Y10S209/901—Froth flotation; copper
Definitions
- This invention relates to a mineral flotation process, in particular to a flotation process utilizing as flotation agents normal primary straight chain aliphatic saturated or unsaturated alcohols having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain.
- a flotation process utilizing as flotation agents normal primary straight chain aliphatic saturated or unsaturated alcohols having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain.
- fatty acids such as lauric acid, oleic acid and stearic acid
- flotation agents such as pine oil, cresylic acid, or sulfur containing organic compounds
- One object of the invention comprises a process for the froth flotation of minerals involving the use of normal primary straight chain saturated and unsaturated alcohols having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain.
- Another object of the invention relates to the use of the mineral pulps containing soluble salts which will react with the higher fatty acids and will not react with corresponding normal primary saturated of unsaturated alcohols.
- the alcohols used in accordance with the present invention contain alkyl radicals having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms of either saturated or unsaturated s ecific alcohols.
- This group comprises hex alcohol, heptyl alcohol, octyl alcohol, nonyl alcohol, decyl alcohol, undecyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and'the alcohols known as oleyl alcohol, ricinoleyl alcohol, and linoleyl alcohol.
- U. S. Patent No. 1,370,366 on the use of dihydric alcohols and pinacones as flotation agents has been noted but these are not referred to in the present invention.
- alcohols which may be used in accordance with this invention may be prepared by the catalytic reduction of fats, oils, or free fatty acids according to methods described in the art.
- the object of the present invention is to treat ores generally in the presence of fatty alcohols
- the process is applied with particular efliciency to the treatment of nonsulflde bearing ores, for example phosphate rock, limestone, bauxite, barytes, ilmenite, calcite, malachite, azurite and cassiterite.
- the amount of fatty alcohol which can be used in the flotation machine may vary within wide limits.
- the action of the fatty alcohol will be what is known technically as the action of a collector.
- the amounts of fatty alcohol collector may vary from a fraction of a pound per ton (as low as 0.05 lb. per ton) to as high as 20 pounds per ton.
- the flotative efficiency of these alcohols depend to a certain extent on the particular alcohol which is being used, c. g., whether the alcohol is saturated or unsaturated.
- the alcohols can be used alone or can be used with frothing agents, such as pine oil, and they can be used with sulfur containing organic compounds as xanthates, thiocarbonates, and mercaptans.
- Flotation with fatty alcohols must be carried out above the melting points of the alcohols.
- the alcohols used in this invention are all insoluble in Water. It is essential that these agents, acting as collectors, should be used in the proper proportion with frothing agents. It is well known that collectors may be effective between certain critical concentrations. The mechanism of the fat alcohol collectors will not be the same as that of the fatty acids since in general there will be no chemical reaction between the fatty alcohol and the ore or gangue as is the case with the fatty acids. In general, it will be necessary to use frothing agents with these fat alcohols.
- the fat alcohols having 8 carbon atoms or less in the molecule do not build up foams or froths on liquids, but the saturated and unsaturated fatty alcohols having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the molecule build up froths themselves without the addition of frothing agents under certain conditions of agitation.
- the fat alcohols may be used as assistants or collectors in the flotation process described in Lenher application Serial No. 665,955, flled April 13, 1933.
- This application describes as new flotation agents, the salts of the reaction products resulting from the action of a strong normally sulfonating agent upon one of the alcohols described herein as being flotation agents, these reaction products comprising true sulfate esters.
- These alcohols may also be used in conjunction with soaps, i. e., the salts of fatty acids, or other soaplike flotation agents. These alcohols may be used in conjunction with the products of the reaction of both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids or fatty acid derivatives, having from 8 to 18 carbon.
- 'I'he fat alcohols are composed of a non-polar hydrocarbon chain and a polar hydroxyl or primary alcohol group (CHzOH).
- CHzOH polar hydroxyl or primary alcohol group
- the surface activity or collecting action of these compounds is due to the alcohol group.
- Mineral particles are therefore coated with an oily fllm. It is well known that these fllms are of the order of one molecule or less in thickness.
- the mineral particle coated with fat alcohol cannot be wetted by the water and is drawn into the gas-liquid interface in the flotation machine on which it is buoyed to the surface and is held there by the contraction of the water film with the oil particle.
- a flotation agent comprising a salt of a sulfuric acid ester of a normal primary alcohol having from.
- a flotation agent comprising a sodium salt of a sulfuric acid ester of a normal primary alcohol having from eight to eighteen carbon atoms in the molecule, and a free normal primary alcohol having from six to eighteen carbon atoms in the molecule.
- a flotation agent comprising a sodium salt of a sulfuric acid ester of lauryl alcohol, and free lauryl alcohol.
Landscapes
- Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
Description
Patented Aug. 27, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLOTATION PROCESS Samuel Lenher, Wllmington, Del., asslgnor a E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application May 3, 1933, Serial No. 669,199
4 Claims.
This invention relates to a mineral flotation process, in particular to a flotation process utilizing as flotation agents normal primary straight chain aliphatic saturated or unsaturated alcohols having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. In accordance with the present invention it has been discovered that in the flotation treatment of ores to separate the desired constituents therefrom liquid media containing normal primary saturated or unsaturated alcohols, either, alone or with other flotation agents, are effective to separate the gangue from the ore according to well known principles of froth flotation. It is well known in the art that alcohols and oils, such as turpineol, pine oil, and alcohols from the methanol synthesis, are flotation agents. It is also well known in the art that fatty acids, such as lauric acid, oleic acid and stearic acid, when used alone or in conjunction with other flotation agents, such as pine oil, cresylic acid, or sulfur containing organic compounds, are effective flotation agents.
One object of the invention comprises a process for the froth flotation of minerals involving the use of normal primary straight chain saturated and unsaturated alcohols having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. Another object of the invention relates to the use of the mineral pulps containing soluble salts which will react with the higher fatty acids and will not react with corresponding normal primary saturated of unsaturated alcohols.
The alcohols used in accordance with the present invention contain alkyl radicals having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms of either saturated or unsaturated s ecific alcohols. This group comprises hex alcohol, heptyl alcohol, octyl alcohol, nonyl alcohol, decyl alcohol, undecyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and'the alcohols known as oleyl alcohol, ricinoleyl alcohol, and linoleyl alcohol. U. S. Patent No. 1,370,366 on the use of dihydric alcohols and pinacones as flotation agents has been noted but these are not referred to in the present invention.
The above noted alcohols which may be used in accordance with this invention may be prepared by the catalytic reduction of fats, oils, or free fatty acids according to methods described in the art.
While the object of the present invention is to treat ores generally in the presence of fatty alcohols, the process is applied with particular efliciency to the treatment of nonsulflde bearing ores, for example phosphate rock, limestone, bauxite, barytes, ilmenite, calcite, malachite, azurite and cassiterite.
The amount of fatty alcohol which can be used in the flotation machine may vary within wide limits. The action of the fatty alcohol will be what is known technically as the action of a collector. The amounts of fatty alcohol collector may vary from a fraction of a pound per ton (as low as 0.05 lb. per ton) to as high as 20 pounds per ton. The flotative efficiency of these alcohols depend to a certain extent on the particular alcohol which is being used, c. g., whether the alcohol is saturated or unsaturated. The alcohols can be used alone or can be used with frothing agents, such as pine oil, and they can be used with sulfur containing organic compounds as xanthates, thiocarbonates, and mercaptans. Flotation with fatty alcohols must be carried out above the melting points of the alcohols. The alcohols used in this invention are all insoluble in Water. It is essential that these agents, acting as collectors, should be used in the proper proportion with frothing agents. It is well known that collectors may be effective between certain critical concentrations. The mechanism of the fat alcohol collectors will not be the same as that of the fatty acids since in general there will be no chemical reaction between the fatty alcohol and the ore or gangue as is the case with the fatty acids. In general, it will be necessary to use frothing agents with these fat alcohols. The fat alcohols having 8 carbon atoms or less in the molecule do not build up foams or froths on liquids, but the saturated and unsaturated fatty alcohols having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the molecule build up froths themselves without the addition of frothing agents under certain conditions of agitation. In this flotation process the fat alcohols may be used as assistants or collectors in the flotation process described in Lenher application Serial No. 665,955, flled April 13, 1933. This application describes as new flotation agents, the salts of the reaction products resulting from the action of a strong normally sulfonating agent upon one of the alcohols described herein as being flotation agents, these reaction products comprising true sulfate esters. These alcohols may also be used in conjunction with soaps, i. e., the salts of fatty acids, or other soaplike flotation agents. These alcohols may be used in conjunction with the products of the reaction of both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids or fatty acid derivatives, having from 8 to 18 carbon.
' atoms in the molecule, that is free fatty acids,
their salts or acid chlorides and sulfonated simple aliphatic compounds, such as beta hydroxy ethane sulfonic acid, beta amino ethane sulfonic acid, their salts and the like.-
Many advantages follow from the practice of the present invention. The alcohols do not form metal salts as do the corresponding acids and ness in the water, in mineral pulps and to inorganic salts generally than are free fatty acids. These fatty alcohols can be used over a range of hydrogen ion concentrations from a pH=1:t'o
a'pH=12.
'I'he fat alcohols are composed of a non-polar hydrocarbon chain and a polar hydroxyl or primary alcohol group (CHzOH). The surface activity or collecting action of these compounds is due to the alcohol group. The alcohols-are adsorbed on the surface of mineral particles with the polar group directed toward the water. Mineral particles are therefore coated with an oily fllm. It is well known that these fllms are of the order of one molecule or less in thickness. The mineral particle coated with fat alcohol cannot be wetted by the water and is drawn into the gas-liquid interface in the flotation machine on which it is buoyed to the surface and is held there by the contraction of the water film with the oil particle.
The invention is not to be limited to the speciiic illustrations given above, since they may be varied to a considerable-extent depending on the type of material being treated and other conditions. I
Any variation from the above description which corresponds to the spirit of the invention, is intended to be included within the scope of the claims.
I claim:
1. In the froth flotation of ores by agitating and aerating an aqueous suspension of finely divided minerals the step which comprises conducting said flotation in the presence of both a flotation agent, comprising a salt of a sulfuric acid ester of a normal primary alcohol having from.
eight to eighteen carbon atoms in the molecule, and a free normal primary alcohol having from six to eighteen carbon atoms in the molecules v2.-In the froth flotation of ores by agitating hol having from eight to eighteen carbon atoms in the molecule, and a free normal primary -alco-= hol having from six to eighteen carbon atoms in the molecule.
3. In the froth flotation of ores by a tating and aerating an aqueous suspension of flnely divided minerals the step which, comprises 'con-' ducting said flotation in the presence of both a flotation agent, comprising a sodium salt of a sulfuric acid ester of a normal primary alcohol having from eight to eighteen carbon atoms in the molecule, and a free normal primary alcohol having from six to eighteen carbon atoms in the molecule.
4. In the froth flotation of ores by agitating and aerating an aqueous suspension of finely divided minerals the step which comprises conducting said flotation in the presence of both a flotation agent, comprising a sodium salt of a sulfuric acid ester of lauryl alcohol, and free lauryl alcohol.
- SAMUEL LENHER.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US669199A US2012609A (en) | 1933-05-03 | 1933-05-03 | Flotation process |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US669199A US2012609A (en) | 1933-05-03 | 1933-05-03 | Flotation process |
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US2012609A true US2012609A (en) | 1935-08-27 |
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2647629A (en) * | 1950-08-25 | 1953-08-04 | Atomic Energy Commission | Flotation of uranium |
US3167502A (en) * | 1962-03-20 | 1965-01-26 | Minerals & Chem Philipp Corp | Process for recovering cassiterite from ores |
US3780860A (en) * | 1971-05-17 | 1973-12-25 | Stephan Chem Co | Flotation of copper sulfide ores |
US3827557A (en) * | 1971-05-17 | 1974-08-06 | Stepan Chemical Co | Method of copper sulfide ore flotation |
US4090972A (en) * | 1976-09-16 | 1978-05-23 | American Cyanamid Company | Effective promoter extender for conventional fatty acids in non-sulfide mineral flotation |
US4104157A (en) * | 1976-05-12 | 1978-08-01 | Inspiration Consolidated Copper Company | Flotation of sulfide minerals |
US4330398A (en) * | 1979-10-12 | 1982-05-18 | Westvaco Corporation | Flotation of phosphate ores with anionic agents |
US4368116A (en) * | 1981-03-09 | 1983-01-11 | Vojislav Petrovich | Polyhydroxy fatty acids collector-frothers |
EP0106787A2 (en) * | 1982-10-14 | 1984-04-25 | Sherex Chemical Company, Inc. | Promoters for froth flotation of coal |
US4455223A (en) * | 1981-03-09 | 1984-06-19 | Vojislav Petrovich | Froth flotation method for recovering metal values with polyhydroxy fatty acids |
US4643823A (en) * | 1982-09-10 | 1987-02-17 | Phillips Petroleum Company | Recovering metal sulfides by flotation using mercaptoalcohols |
-
1933
- 1933-05-03 US US669199A patent/US2012609A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2647629A (en) * | 1950-08-25 | 1953-08-04 | Atomic Energy Commission | Flotation of uranium |
US3167502A (en) * | 1962-03-20 | 1965-01-26 | Minerals & Chem Philipp Corp | Process for recovering cassiterite from ores |
US3780860A (en) * | 1971-05-17 | 1973-12-25 | Stephan Chem Co | Flotation of copper sulfide ores |
US3827557A (en) * | 1971-05-17 | 1974-08-06 | Stepan Chemical Co | Method of copper sulfide ore flotation |
US4104157A (en) * | 1976-05-12 | 1978-08-01 | Inspiration Consolidated Copper Company | Flotation of sulfide minerals |
US4090972A (en) * | 1976-09-16 | 1978-05-23 | American Cyanamid Company | Effective promoter extender for conventional fatty acids in non-sulfide mineral flotation |
US4330398A (en) * | 1979-10-12 | 1982-05-18 | Westvaco Corporation | Flotation of phosphate ores with anionic agents |
US4368116A (en) * | 1981-03-09 | 1983-01-11 | Vojislav Petrovich | Polyhydroxy fatty acids collector-frothers |
US4455223A (en) * | 1981-03-09 | 1984-06-19 | Vojislav Petrovich | Froth flotation method for recovering metal values with polyhydroxy fatty acids |
US4643823A (en) * | 1982-09-10 | 1987-02-17 | Phillips Petroleum Company | Recovering metal sulfides by flotation using mercaptoalcohols |
EP0106787A2 (en) * | 1982-10-14 | 1984-04-25 | Sherex Chemical Company, Inc. | Promoters for froth flotation of coal |
EP0106787A3 (en) * | 1982-10-14 | 1986-03-26 | Sherex Chemical Company, Inc. | Promoters for froth flotation of coal |
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