Sodium silicate as a phosphate flotation modifier
AssigneeIMC Fertilizer, Inc.
InventorRobert E. Snow
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Abstract
This invention is directed to an improved froth flotation separation for beneficiating phosphate containing ores wherein an ore is preliminarily conditioned with an anionic agent and then subjected to froth flotation separation to concentrate the phosphate containing fraction. The improvement comprises the addition of sodium silicate near the end of the conditioning step before the beginning of the froth flotation.
Claims12
A method of beneficiating a finely divided phosphate-containing ore wherein said ore is preliminarily conditioned for a period at least about 1 minute in aqueous slurry form with anionic agents, said conditioned slurry thereafter being subjected to froth flotation separation to provide a phosphate-containing froth concentrate fraction and separate said froth concentrate fraction from the gangue in said ore, the improvement comprising the addition to said slurry during the final period of said conditioning not more than about 30 seconds before the end of said conditioning of an amount of sodium silicate sufficient to enhance the said separation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.