Biodegradable float aid for mining beneficiation
AssigneeBastech, LLC
InventorsThomas Crane Friel, Debbie Tulkoff Petree
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A biodegradable floatation aid for use in the froth floatation process for ore beneficiation has been developed to replace the current petroleum based hydrocarbons. The product described is an ester of C-8 through C-20 alcohols and C-2 through C-12 diols or triols, reacted with C-12 through C-22 carboxylic acids or C-2 through C-36 dicarboxylic acids.
Claims7
In a method for phosphate ore beneficiation including subjecting said phosphate ore containing at least one of clay and sand to flotation to effect separation of the phosphate mineral from at least one of clay and sand wherein the improvement comprises replacing petroleum based hydrocarbons such that no petroleum based hydrocarbons are present during flotation with a biodegradable, hydrophobic ester formed from an alcohol and a carboxylic acid, optionally branched, wherein the alcohol is selected from C-8 through C-20 alcohols or from C-2 through C-12 diols and the carboxylic acids is selected from C-12 through C-22 carboxylic acids or C-2 through C-36 unsubstituted dicarboxylic acids, optionally branched.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.