Modified amine-aldehyde resins and uses thereof in separation processes

A method for purifying clay from a clay-containing ore comprising one or more impurities selected from the group consisting of metals, metal oxides, and minerals, the method comprising:

• (a) treating a slurry of clay-containing ore with a depressant comprising a modified resin, and
• (b) recovering, by froth flotation of said impurity either after or during said treating step (a), a purified clay having a reduced amount of at least one of said impurities,
• wherein said modified resin comprises a base resin that is the reaction product of a primary or a secondary amine and an aldehyde, and wherein said base resin is modified with a coupling agent, wherein said impurities comprise coal.

A method for purifying clay from a clay-containing ore comprising one or more impurities selected from the group consisting of metals, metal oxides, and minerals, the method comprising:

• (a) treating a slurry of clay-containing ore with a depressant comprising a modified resin, and
• (b) recovering, by froth flotation of said impurity either after or during said treating step (a), a purified clay having a reduced amount of at least one of said impurities,
• wherein said modified resin comprises a base resin that is the reaction product of a primary or a secondary amine and an aldehyde, and wherein said base resin is modified with a coupling agent, wherein said clay-containing ore comprises kaolin clay.

A method for purifying clay from a clay-containing ore comprising one or more impurities selected from the group consisting of metals, metal oxides, and minerals, the method comprising:

• (a) treating a slurry of clay-containing ore with a depressant comprising a modified resin, and
• (b) recovering, by froth flotation of said impurity either after or during said treating step (a), a purified clay having a reduced amount of at least one of said impurities,
• wherein said modified resin comprises a base resin that is the reaction product of a primary or a secondary amine and an aldehyde, and wherein said base resin is modified with a coupling agent, wherein said base resin comprises a urea-formaldehyde resin and said coupling agent is a substituted silane.

A method for purifying clay from a clay-containing ore comprising one or more impurities selected from the group consisting of metals, metal oxides, and minerals, the method comprising:

• (a) treating a slurry of clay-containing ore with a depressant comprising a modified resin, and
• (b) recovering, by froth flotation of said impurity either after or during said treating step (a), a purified clay having a reduced amount of at least one of said impurities,
• wherein said modified resin comprises a base resin that is the reaction product of a primary or a secondary amine and an aldehyde, and wherein said base resin is modified with a coupling agent, wherein said coupling agent comprises a substituted silane selected from the group consisting of a ureido substituted silane, an amino substituted silane, a sulfur substituted silane, an epoxy substituted silane, a methacryl substituted silane, a vinyl substituted silane, an alkyl substituted silane, a haloalkyl substituted silane, and mixtures thereof.

A method for purifying bitumen from a bitumen-containing slurry comprising sand or clay, the method comprising:

• (a) treating the slurry with a depressant comprising a modified resin, and
• (b) recovering, by froth flotation either after or during said treating step (a), purified bitumen having a reduced amount of sand or clay,
• wherein said modified resin comprises a base resin that is the reaction product of a primary or a secondary amine and an aldehyde, and wherein said base resin is modified with a coupling agent.