Process for the froth flotation of calcium phosphate-containing minerals and flotation agents therefor
AssigneeBerol Kemi AB
InventorsKarl M. E. Hellsten, Anders W. Klingberg
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Abstract
A process for the froth flotation of calcium phosphate-containing minerals is provided which comprises carrying out the flotation in the presence of an amphoteric flotation agent having the general formula: ##STR1## wherein: R is a hydrocarbon group having from about seven to about twenty-four carbon atoms; A is an oxyalkylene group having from two to about four carbon atoms; R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and hydrocarbon groups having from one to about four carbon atoms; Y.sup.- is selected from the group consisting of COO.sup.- and SO.sub.3.sup.- ; n is a number from 0 to 1; p is a number from 0 to 5; q is a number from 1 to 2; and salts thereof.
Claims23
A process for the froth flotation of calcium phosphate-containing materials in an aqueous flotation bath while preferentially and selectively floating calcium phosphate in the presence of any calcium carbonate, which comprises carrying out the flotation in the presence of an amphoteric surfactant having the formula:
- ##STR26## wherein:
- R is a hydrocarbon group having from about seven to about twenty-four carbon atoms;
- A is an oxyalkylene group having from two to about four carbon atoms;
- R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and hydrocarbon groups having from one to about four carbon atoms;
- Y.sup.- is selected from the group consisting of COO.sup.- and SO.sub.3.sup.- ;
- n is a number from 0 to 1;
- p is a number from 0 to about 5;
- and
- q is a number from 1 to 2.
A flotation agent composition comprising an amphoteric surfactant having the formula:
- ##STR31## wherein:
- R is a hydrocarbon group having from about seven to about twenty-four carbon atoms;
- A is an oxyalkylene group having from two to about four carbon atoms;
- R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and hydrocarbon groups having from one to about four carbon atoms;
- p is a number from 0 to about 5;
- and
- q is a number from 1 to 2;
- and a second polar water-insoluble flotation agent selected from the group consisting of water-insoluble fatty acid soaps, water-insoluble polyoxyalkylene ether surfactants, mixed oxyethylene-oxypropylene condensates, aliphatic alcohol ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols, fatty acid esters of polyoxyalkylene glycols, fatty acid amides of polyoxyalkylene glycols, fatty alcohol ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols, polyoxypropylene alcohols and glycols, organic phosphates, and esters of organic polycarboxylic acids having an affinity for calcium phosphate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.