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US 12,605,719 B2Granted
Methods and compositions for processing sulfide ores
AssigneeEcolab USA Inc.
InventorsChristopher Ryan Greulich, Kevin O'Brien, Michael Ignazio LaRosa
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Abstract
Described herein are methods of reducing the viscosity of products of sulfide ore froth flotation. A froth overflow, or an underflow of sulfide ore flotation is treated using a nonionic compound to reduce the viscosity of a froth or an underflow. The lowered viscosity imparts several benefits in sulfide ore processing of copper and molybdenum metal products, including increased rate of sedimentation to yield a concentrated product.
Claims14
A method comprising
- collecting a sulfide overflow from a sulfide ore froth flotation process, the sulfide overflow having 20% solids or less;
- and
- adding 1 μg to 1 mg of a nonionic compound selected from a polyalkylene oxide, a structured polyol, or a polyol surfactant to each liter of the sulfide overflow to form a treated overflow, wherein the viscosity of the treated overflow is 10% to 90% less than the viscosity of the sulfide overflow.
A method comprising
- collecting a sulfide underflow from a sulfide ore froth flotation process, the sulfide underflow having 20% solids or less;
- and
- adding 1 μg to 1 mg of a nonionic compound comprising a polyalkylene oxide, a structured polyol, or a polyol surfactant to each liter of the sulfide underflow form a treated underflow, wherein the viscosity of the treated underflow is 10% to 90% less than the viscosity of the sulfide underflow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.