# US 10,245,596 B2 · Electrostatic modification reagent and process for enhancing electrostatic separation in the beneficiation of ores

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- Number: US 10,245,596 B2
- Document ID: US10245596B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/200,366
- Filed: 2016-07-01
- Published: 2016-10-27
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2008-10-31
- Assignees: Cytec Technology Corp.
- Applicants: Cytec Technology Corp.
- Inventors: Sathanjheri A. Ravishankar; Harsha Kolla; Bing Wang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245596B2

## CPC

- B03C 7/003: {Pretreatment of the solids prior to electrostatic separation}
- C01B 33/20: Silicates (persilicates C01B15/14 {; containing aluminium C01B33/26})
- C01G 23/0475: {Purification}
- H01B 1/12: organic substances {(organic macromolecular compounds or compositions C08)}
- B03C: MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS (separating isotopes B01D59/00; combinations of magnetic or electrostatic separation with separation of solids by other means B03B, B07B)
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- C01G: COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C01D OR C01F (metal hydrides {monoborane, diborane or addition complexes thereof} C01B6/00; salts of oxyacids of halogens C01B11/00; peroxides, salts or peroxyacids C01B15/00; thiosulfates, dithionites, polythionates C01B17/64; compounds containing selenium, or tellurium C01B19/00; binary compounds of nitrogen with metals C01B21/06; azides C01B21/08; {compounds containing nitrogen, other non-metals and metal C01B21/082}; metal amides C01B21/092; nitrites C01B21/50; {compounds of noble gases C01B23/0005}; phosphides C01B25/08; salts of oxyacids of phosphorus C01B25/16; carbides C01B32/90; compounds containing silicon C01B33/00; compounds containing boron C01B35/00; compounds having molecular sieve properties but not having base-exchange properties C01B37/00; compounds having molecular sieve and base-exchange properties, e.g. crystalline zeolites, C01B39/00; cyanides C01C3/08; salts of cyanamide C01C3/16; thiocyanates C01C3/20)
- H01B: CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES (selection for magnetic properties H01F1/00; waveguides H01P {; printed circuits H05K})

## Abstract

An electrostatic modification reagent and a process for beneficiating a mineral substrate by electrostatic separation as described herein. The electrostatic modification reagent may be used in an electric separation process for separating components from a mineral ore or sand.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electrostatic modification reagent for beneficiating a mineral substrate by electrostatic separation, wherein the mineral substrate includes a conducting mineral component and/or a non-conducting mineral component, said reagent comprising:
at least one electrostatic modifier comprising an organic compound selected from the group consisting of
quaternary amines; imidazoline compounds; dithiocarbamate compounds; pyridine compounds; pyrrolidine compounds; conducting polymers; polyethyleneimines; compounds of formula (IV):
R—(CONH—O—X)n (IV)
wherein n of formula (IV) is 1 to 3; wherein R of formula (IV) comprises from 1 to 50 carbons; and wherein each X of formula (IV) is individually selected from the group consisting of H, M, and NR′4, where M is a metal ion and each R′ is individually selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C10 alkyl, C6-C10 aryl, C7-C10 aralkyl, and C10-C18 naphthylalkyl;
compounds of formula (VI):
wherein R8 of formula (VI) is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C22 alkyl, C6-C22 aryl, C7-C10 aralkyl, and C10-C18 naphthylalkyl; and X of formula (VI) is selected from the group consisting of H, M, and NR′4, where M is a metal ion and each R′ is individually selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C10 alkyl, C6-C10 aryl, C7-C10 aralkyl and C10-C18 naphthylalkyl;
and mixtures thereof;
a plurality of particles having an average specific resistivity that is greater than or equal to the specific resistivity of the non-conducting mineral component of the mineral substrate when the non-conducting mineral component is electrostatically modified; and/or
a plurality of particles having an average specific resistivity that is less than or equal to the specific resistivity of the conducting mineral component of the mineral substrate when the conducting mineral component is electrostatically modified,
wherein the electrostatic modifier and plurality of particles are present in a weight ratio of electrostatic modifier to particles of from 100:1 to 1:100.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic modifier comprises a quaternary amine compound according to formula (I):
R(R1R2R3)N+X− (I)
wherein R of formula (I) comprises from 1 to 50 carbon atoms;
wherein each of R1, R2 and R3 of formula (I) is individually chosen from a member selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C10 alkyl, C6-C10 aryl, C7-C10 aralkyl, and C10-C18 naphthylalkyl; and
wherein X of formula (I) is selected from the group consisting of halide, oxide, sulfide, nitride, hydride, peroxide, hydroxide, cyanide, perchlorate, chlorate, chlorite, hypochlorite, nitrate, nitrite, sulfate, sulfite, phosphate, carbonate, acetate, oxalate, tosylate, cyanate, thiocyanate, bicarbonate, permanganate, chromate, and dichromate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 2, wherein the quaternary amine compound has a number average molecular weight of 700 Da or less.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic modifier comprises an imidazoline compound comprising
a compound of formula (IIa)
or a quaternized salt thereof;
wherein R4′ is selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 alkylamine, C1-C4 alkoxy and C2-C5 alkyl; and wherein R4 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C26 alkyl, C2-C26 alkenyl, C6-C26 aryl, C7-C10 aralkyl, and C10-C18 naphthylalkyl; or
a compound of formula (IIb):
wherein R1 of formula (IIb) is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C26 alkyl, C2-C26 alkenyl, C6-C26 aryl, C7-C10 aralkyl, C10-C18 naphthylalkyl, and oleyl; and wherein R of formula (IIb) is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C26 alkyl, oleyl, C2-C26 alkenyl, C6-C26 aryl, C7-C10 aralkyl, and C10-C18 naphthylalkyl; or
mixtures of a compound according to formula (IIa), or a quaternized salt thereof, and a compound according to formula (IIb).

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 4, wherein the imidazoline compound is chosen from
a compound according to formula (IIa), wherein R4′ is a C1-C4 alkoxy and R4 is a C1-C26 alkyl; or
a compound according to formula (IIb), wherein R is oleyl and R1 is oleyl; or
mixtures thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 5, wherein the compound according to formula (IIa) is:

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 5, wherein the compound according to formula (IIb) is:

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic modifier comprises a dithiocarbamate compound.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 8, wherein the dithiocarbamate compound is sodiumdiallylamine dithiocarbamate according to formula VII:

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic modifier comprises a pyridine compound according to formula (III):
wherein R of formula (III) is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C22 alkyl, C6-C22 aryl, C7-C10 aralkyl, and C10-C18 naphthylalkyl; and wherein X of formula (III) is selected from the group consisting of halide, oxide, sulfide, nitride, hydride, peroxide, hydroxide, cyanide, perchlorate, chlorate, chlorite, hypochlorite, nitrate, nitrite, sulfate, sulfite, phosphate, carbonate, acetate, oxalate, tosylate, cyanate, thiocyanate, bicarbonate, permanganate, chromate, and dichromate.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic modifier comprises a conducting polymer comprising a polyaniline compound according to formula (V):
wherein each of X, Y, and Z of formula (V) is individually selected from the group consisting of —COOH, —SO3H, and —CO(NH—OH);
wherein R7 of formula (V) is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C22 alkyl, C6-C22 aryl, C7-C10 aralkyl, C10-C18 naphthylalkyl, sulfate, and hydroxyl; and
wherein n of formula (V) is selected so that the polyaniline has a number average molecular weight from 500 to 10,000 Da.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic modifier comprises a compound according to formula (IV) and is chosen from a C1-C10 alkyl hydroxamate, or salts thereof.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 12, wherein the alkyl hydroxamate is selected from the group consisting of mono-, di-, or tri-hydroxamic acids, sodium salts thereof, potassium salts thereof, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic modifier comprises a polyethyleneimine compound according to formula (VIII)
or mixtures thereof wherein n of formula (VIII) is selected so that the polyethyleneimine has a number average molecular weight from 350 to 1000 Da.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic modification reagent is intermixed with the mineral substrate in an amount that is from 0.01 kg to 5 kg of electrostatic modifier per ton of mineral substrate.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of particles are intermixed with the mineral substrate at a ratio in the range of from 0.01 kg to 5 kg of particles per ton of mineral substrate.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of particles are non-conductive and chosen from a member selected from the group consisting of silicates, aluminates, polystyrene, quartz, mica, talc, rubber, shellac, Lucite, glass, wood, celluloid, ivory and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 17, wherein the silicates are of the formula (MxOy)p(SiO2)q, and the aluminates are of the formula MxAlOz;
wherein M is a metal; each of x and y is individually chosen from 1 to 4; z is from 1 to 12; and the ratio of p:q is from 10:1 to 1:10.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of non-conductive particles are zirconium silicate (ZrSiO4).

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 17, wherein the nonconductive particles comprise an aluminosilicate clay.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of particles are conductive and comprise a metal oxide of the formula MxOy, wherein M is a transition metal, and wherein each of x and y is individually in the range of from 1 to 6.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 21, wherein the transition metal is chosen from a member selected from the group consisting of Cu, Co, Mn, Ti, Fe, Zn, Mo, and Ni.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of particles are conductive and comprise a superconducting material of the formula
ApBqDrOs
wherein A is chosen from a member selected from the group consisting of La, Pr, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and Nb, wherein p ranges from 0.01 to 2.0;
B is chosen from Ca, Ba, or Sr, wherein q ranges from 0.5 to 3;
D is chosen from Cu, Ni, Ti, or Mo, wherein r ranges from 0.1 to 5; and
O is oxygen, wherein s ranges from 1 to 10.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 1, wherein the mineral substrate comprises rutile and zircon containing minerals.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The electrostatic modification reagent according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of particles have an average diameter of from 1 to 500 microns.