Frothers for minerals recovery and methods of making and using same
The present invention pertains to a composition comprising at least one compound of formula (I) and to the use of said composition for recovering value minerals from ore and other feedstocks by flotation.
1 . A froth flotation process for recovering value minerals from ore and other feedstocks comprising adding to said ore and other feedstocks a composition comprising at least one compound of formula (I);
wherein:
A represents a C1-C8 alkanediyl group that may be linear, branched or cyclic,
B which can be the same or different at each occurrence, represents a C1-C8 alkanediyl group that may be linear, branched or cyclic,
R represents H or a C1-C8 alkyl group that may be linear or branched,
n is an integer ≥1 and ≤100, and
R 1 represents a C4-C20 hydrocarbyl group optionally interrupted by a carbonyl group.
2 . The froth flotation process according to claim 1 , wherein A is selected from the list consisting of —CH 2 —, —CH 2 —CH 2 —, —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 —, —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 —, —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 — and —CH(CH 3 )— and —C(CH 3 ) 2 —.
3 . The froth flotation process according to claim 1 , wherein B is selected from the list consisting of —CH 2 —CH 2 —, —CH 2 —CH(CH 3 )—, —CH(CH 3 )—CH 2 — and —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 —.
4 . The froth flotation process according to claim 1 , wherein R is H.
5 . The froth flotation process according to claim 1 , wherein R is selected from the list consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, sec-butyl, t-butyl, isobutyl and n-butyl.
6 . The composition froth flotation process according to claim 1 , wherein n is chosen from 1 to 10.
7 . The froth flotation process according to claim 1 , wherein value minerals are sulfide minerals, non-sulfide minerals or native metals.
8 . The froth flotation process according to claim 1 , wherein value minerals are energy minerals.
9 . The froth flotation process according to claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of frothers, collectors, water, compatibilizing agents, defoamers, dispersants, pH regulators, rheology regulators, surface active agents, activators, depressants, lubricants, anti-scalants and anti-corrosion agents.
10 . The froth flotation process according to claim 9 , wherein the composition further comprises frothers and/or collectors.
11 . The froth flotation process according to claim 1 , wherein R 1 - - - - - - of formula (I) is selected from the list consisting of
12 . The froth flotation process according to claim 11 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of frothers, collectors, water, compatibilizing agents, defoamers, dispersants, pH regulators, rheology regulators, surface active agents, activators, depressants, lubricants, anti-scalants and anti-corrosion agents.
13 . The froth flotation process according to claim 11 , wherein R 1 - - - - - - of formula (I) is selected from the list consisting of
14 . The froth flotation process according to claim 13 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of frothers, collectors, water, compatibilizing agents, defoamers, dispersants, pH regulators, rheology regulators, surface active agents, activators, depressants, lubricants, anti-scalants and anti-corrosion agents.
15 . The froth flotation process according to claim 14 , wherein the composition further comprises frothers and/or collectors.