Ore flotation

Methyl-2-pentanoi b.p. 132 C, a solvent for nitrocellulose, urea-formaldehyde and alkyd resins. It is also used in ore flotation. 

Nonsulfide Ore Flotation. Nonsulfide minerals recovered by flotation include native elements such as graphite, diamonds, copper, gold, and numerous oxides as well as salts such as carbonates, phosphates, tungstates, and the like. Examples of value-bearing nonsulfide, noncoal minerals include... 

The basic flow sheet for the flotation-concentration of nonsulfide minerals is essentially the same as that for treating sulfides but the family of reagents used is different. The reagents utilized for nonsulfide mineral concentrations by flotation are usually fatty acids or their salts (RCOOH, RCOOM), sulfonates (RSO M), sulfates (RSO M), where M is usually Na or K, and R represents a linear, branched, or cycHc hydrocarbon chain and amines [R2N(R)3]A where R and R are hydrocarbon chains and A is an anion such as Cl or Br . Collectors for most nonsulfides can be selected on the basis of their isoelectric points. Thus at pH > pH p cationic surfactants are suitable collectors whereas at lower pH values anion-type collectors are selected as illustrated in Figure 10 (28). Figure 13 shows an iron ore flotation flow sheet as a representative of high volume oxide flotation practice. 

Fig. 13. Experimental iron ore flotation flow sheet (28) (-), forward flow (-----), return flow. Courtesy of USBM. Note the combination of flotation...

The greatest amount of surfactant consumption is in packaged soaps and detergents for household and industrial use. The remainder is used in processing textiles and leather, in ore flotation and oil-drilling operations, and in the manufacture of agricultural sprays, cosmetics, elastomers, food, lubricants, paint, pharmaceuticals, and a host of other products. 

Oil field uses are primarily imidazolines for surfactant and corrosion inhibition (see Petroleum). Besides the lubrication market for metal salts, the miscellaneous market is comprised of free acids used ia concrete additives, motor oil lubricants, and asphalt-paving applications (47) (see Asphalt Lubrication AND lubricants). Naphthenic acid has also been studied ia ore flotation for recovery of rare-earth metals (48) (see Flotation Lanthanides). 

Dialkyl and diaryl dithiophosphoric acids are the bases of many high pressure lubricants, oil additives (see Lubrication and lubricants), and ore flotation chemicals (see Mineral recovery and processing). Organophosphoms insecticides such as Parathion are made by chlorination of the appropriate diaLkyl dithiophosphate and subsequent reaction of the intermediate dialkyl thiophosphoric chloride with sodium -nitrophenolate according to the following (see... 

Uses. Phosphoms(V) sulfide is used in the manufacture of lubricating oil additives, insecticides, ore flotation agents, and specialty chemicals. Phosphoms sesquisulfide, P4S2, has been used extensively in the manufacture of stnkeanywhere matches (qv). In addition, small quantities are used in fireworks (see Pyrotechnics). 

Mining. Numerous patents have advocated the use of alkanolamines in mining appHcations. Triethanolarnine has been used as a depressent in the flotation of copper (164), in the electrotwinning of gold (165), and as an aid in the froth flotation of nickel ores. Phosphate ore flotation has been improved through the use of a fatty acid condensate with ethanolamine (166). Beneficiation of tin ore has been accompHshed using fatty acid alkanolamides (167). 

The H2S sulfanes are the subject of several reviews (129,133). Except for hydrogen sulfide these have no practical utiUty. Sodium tetrasulfide [12034-39-8] is available commercially as a 40 wt % aqueous solution and is used to dehair hides in taimeries, as an ore flotation agent, in the preparation of sulfur dyes (qv), and for metal sulfide finishes (see Leather Mineral recovery and processing). 

Miscellaneous. In ore flotation, sodium sulfite functions as a selective depressant. In textile processing, sodium sulfite is used as a bleach for wood (qv) and polyamide fibers and as an antichlor after the use of chlorine bleach. Synthetic appHcations of sodium sulfite include production of sodium thiosulfite by addition of sulfur and the introduction of sulfonate groups into dyestuffs and other organic products. Sodium sulfite is useful as a scavenger for formaldehyde in aminoplast—wood compositions, and as a buffer in chrome tanning of leather. 

Zinc ores are generally floated at the mine (18). In the case of simple zinc sulfide ores, flotation is carried out by treatment with copper sulfate to activate the sphalerite causing it to be wet by the organic collector (eg, xanthate). The now-hydrophobic zinc ore particles attach themselves to the rising bubbles. Oxidized ore particles present must be sulftdized with sodium sulfide to be floated (19). Flotation produces concentrates which are ca 50—60% zinc. In mixed ore, the lead and copper are usually floated after depressing the sphalerite with cyanide or zinc sulfate. The sphalerite is then activated and floated. 

Ethyl chloroformate is used in the manufacture of ore flotation agents by reaction with various xanthates (48). 

In an analogous manner, DCPD reacts with alcohols and phenols to form ether derivatives, and with halogen acids, thiocyanic acid, and various carboxyhc acids to form esters. These esters are used as perfume components (67). Dicyclopentadiene alcohol and a number of the ethers, esters, and glycol adducts have been claimed as coal and ore flotation aids (68). 

On the other hand, flotation usually imphes the removal of solid particulate material. Most important under the latter category is ore flotation, which is covered separately in Sec. 19. 

Of the numerous separations reported, only a few can be listed here. Except for minerals beneficiation [ore flotation] which is covered in Sec. 21, the most important industrial applications are usually in the area of pollution control. 

The use of ozone has been proposed in special ore-flotation processes. Two widely different applications involve hydraulic cement and the fabrication of coating on insulators. 

Carbon disulfide is also used to produce xanthates ROC(S)SNa as an ore flotation agent and ammonium thiocyanate as a corrosion inhibitor in ammonia handling systems. 

Amines are important industrial chemicals which are involved in everyday life [3, 4]. Apart from the usual classification into primary, secondary, and tertiary amines, the distinction is often made between lighf amines (less than six-carbon substituents) and fatty amines. light amines are intermediates for the synthesis of drugs, herbicides, cosmetics, etc. [3]. They also find use as vulcanization accelerators and extraction agents. Fatty amines are involved in the synthesis of corrosion inhibitors and cationic surfactants, which are used in ore flotation processes and are good fabric softeners and antistatic agents [4—6],... 

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