Claims
- 1. A method for beneficiation of a mineral sulfide-containing material by air-injection froth flotation in the presence of a collector, the method comprising:a) providing an aqueous slurry of the mineral sulfide-containing material; b) adding a selective collector to the slurry in an amount less than about 100 g/ton of the mineral sulfide-containing material, the collector comprising: at least one oil selected from the group consisting of: 1) a natural oil or synthesized oil comprising: A) triglycerides containing fatty acids of only 20 carbons or less, or B) an ester made from a fatty acid and an alcohol; and 2) an essential oil; and a sulfur-containing sulfide mineral flotation promoter selected from the group consisting of xanthates, thionocarbamates, dithiophosphates, mercaptans, and combinations thereof; c) selectively floating the mineral sulfide by injecting air and selectively allowing the mineral sulfides to adhere to the air bubbles; and d) removing the mineral.
- 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said mineral sulfide-containing material is selected from the group consisting of chalcocite, chalcopyrite, bornite, sphalerite, pentlandite, molybdenite, and other sulfide minerals containing silver, gold, platinum, palladium, iridium, rhodium, or osmium, either in the crystal structure or in association as an independent mineral species, and combinations thereof.
- 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said mineral sulfide-containing material is derived from ores, concentrates, precipitates, residues, tailings, slags, or wastes.
- 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the essential oil comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of a terpene compound, an aromatic compound, and a combination thereof.
- 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the essential oil comprises a terpene derivative having a functional group selected from the group consisting of an alcohol, an ether, an aldehyde, and a ketone.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said triglyceride further comprises at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of ketones, aldehydes, ethers, and alcohols.
- 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the natural oil or the synthesized oil further comprises an aromatic functional group.
- 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said oil and said sulfur-containing sulfide mineral flotation promoter are emulsified.
- 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said collector further comprises a frother.
- 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said collector further comprises a petroleum-based flotation promoter.
- 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said natural oil is selected from the group consisting of cottonseed, corn, linseed, rice bran, safflower, soybean, avocado, jojoba, menhaden, lard, castor, cod liver, tung, oiticicia, apricot, sunflower, pistachio, herring, and coconut; and the essential oil is selected from the group consisting of limonene, citronella, eugenot, eucalyptus globus, camphor, and clove oil.
- 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said natural oil is selected from the group consisting of cottonseed, corn, linseed, rice bran, safflower, soybean, avocado, jojoba, menhaden, lard, castor, cod liver, tung, and oliticia; said synthetic oil is 2-butylocytl oleci acid ester; and said essential oil is selected from the group consisting of limonene, citronella, eugenol, eucalyptus globus, camphor, and clove oil.
- 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the collector comprises a natural oil selected from the group consisting of cottonseed, corn, linseed, rice bran, safflower, soybean, avocado, jojoba, menhaden, lard, and castor.
- 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the collector comprises a natural oil selected from the group consisting of: cottonseed, corn, linseed, rice bran, safflower, and soybean.
- 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the collector comprises cottonseed oil.
- 16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the collector comprises an essential oil.
- 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the collector comprises limonene or citronella.
- 18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the collector comprises a synthesized oil.
- 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the collector comprises 2-butylocytl oleic acid ester.
- 20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the collector comprises a blend of two or more of said natural oils, synthetic oils or essential oils.
- 21. The method of claim 1 wherein the collector is added in an amount less than about 50 g/ton of material.
- 22. The method of claim 1 wherein the collector is added in an amount less than about 30 g/ton of material.
- 23. The method of claim 1 wherein the collector is added in an amount less than about 10 g/ton of material.
- 24. The method of claim 1, further comprising separating the floated mineral sulfide and subjecting the mineral sulfide to a second flotation by repeating (b) and (c).
- 25. A method for beneficiation of a metallic species of gold, silver, copper, palladium, platinum, iridium, osmium, rhodium or ruthenium by air-injection froth flotation in the presence of a collector, the method comprising:a) providing an aqueous slurry of a material containing the metallic species, the material being derived from any ore, concentrate, residue, slag, or waste; b) adding a selective collector to the slurry in an amount less than about 100 g per ton of material containing metallic species, the collector comprising: at least one oil selected from the group consisting of: 1) a natural oil or synthesized oil comprising: A) triglycerides containing fatty acids of only 20 carbons or less, or B) an ester made from a fatty acid and an alcohol; and 2) an essential oil; and a sulfur-containing sulfide mineral flotation promoter selected from the group consisting of xanthates, thionocarbamates, dithiophosphates, mercaptans, and combinations thereof; c) selectively floating the metallic species by injecting air and selectively allowing the mineral sulfides to adhere to the air bubbles; and d) recovering the metallic species.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is the National Stage of International Application No. PCT/US99/18055 filed Aug. 9, 1999, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/096,175, filed Aug. 11, 1998, which is incorporated herein by reference.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/US99/18055 |
|
WO |
00 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO00/09268 |
2/24/2000 |
WO |
A |
US Referenced Citations (23)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
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Feb 1994 |
CL |
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GB |
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Aug 1982 |
GB |
WO 9725149 |
Jul 1997 |
WO |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (5)
Entry |
Search Report from Corresponding Chilean Patent Application No. 1809-99. |
Research Disclosure No. 17314 (Sep. 1978) (abstract). |
Chemical Abstracts, 107:81479, pp. 226-227, 1987. |
International Search Report for International Application PCT/US99/18055, dated Nov. 18, 1999. |
Written Opinion for International Application PCT/US99/18055,dated Jun. 22, 2000. |
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/096175 |
Aug 1998 |
US |