Polymeric sulfide mineral depressants

Abstract

A novel polymer composition comprising recurring units of the formula: ##STR1## wherein each R.sup.1 is, individually, hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl; each R.sup.5, individually, is hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 lower alkyl group; X is OH or SH; Y is OR.sup.2, SR.sup.2, NR.sub.2.sup.2, or NR.sup.2 -NR.sub.2.sup.2 ; R.sup.2 is hydrogen, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 lower alkyl or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 substituted lower alkyl, no more than one of Y and X being hydroxyl, and M is hydrogen, an alkali metal cation or an ammonium ion; x represents a residual mole percent fraction; y is a mole percent fraction ranging from about 0.5% to about 25%; z is a mole percent fraction ranging from about 0% to about 25%; and the molecular weight of the polymer is between about 1,000 and 500,000.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.