Collector composition containing biodegradable compound and process for treating siliceous ores

Collector composition comprising

• (i) as a primary collector the compound of a formula (I)
• wherein R is an alkyl group comprising between about 5 and about 16 carbon atoms that may be branched or linear, k is a value of about 1 to about 3, m is an integer from about 0 to about 25, each A independently is —CH2-CH2- or —CH2CH(CH3)- or —CH2-CH(CH2-CH3)-, n is an integer of at least about 3 and at most about 8, and wherein X is an anion derivable from deprotonating a Brønsted-Lowry acid;
• and
• (ii) a second compound chosen from other primary collectors, secondary collectors, depressants, frothers, and solvents,
• wherein the other primary collector is chosen from quaternary ammonium cationic surfactants different from the above formula (I) and amine-functional surfactants;
• wherein the secondary collector is chosen from nonionic and anionic surfactants,
• wherein the nonionic surfactants are chosen from unbranched and branched fatty alcohols, alkoxylated fatty alcohols, alkylamide ethoxylates, and alkyl diethanol amide ethoxylates,
• wherein the anionic surfactants are chosen from fatty acids, sulphonated fatty acid, acylamidocarboxylates, acylestercarboxylates, alkylphosphates, alkylpyrophosphates, alkylsulphates, and alkylsulphonates;
• wherein the depressant is chosen from polysaccharides and derivatives thereof, and polyacrylamide polymers;
• wherein the frother is chosen from MIBC and propoxylated and ethoxylated C6-C10 alcohols, and
• wherein the solvent is chosen from C1-C5 alcohols optionally ethoxylated and/or propoxylated, provided that the second compound is not a compound of the formula ROH or R—(O-A) m-OH wherein R and m are the same as in the compound of formula (I).