Claims
- 1. A process for flocculating taconite tailings which comprises:
- (a) forming a concentrated aqueous solution from a water-soluble, ter- or higher polymer of water-soluble monomers and hydrophobic monomer, which polymer has the following formula: ##STR7## wherein: R, R.sub.1 and R.sub.3 are independently hydrogen or methyl;
- R.sub.2.sup.+ is an alkali metal ion;
- R.sub.4 is OR.sub.5 where R.sub.5 an alkyl group having up to 5 carbon atoms; ##STR8## where R.sub.6 is an alkyl group having up to 8 carbon atoms; ##STR9## where R.sub.7 is methyl, ethyl or butyl; phenyl; substituted phenyl; CN; or ##STR10## a is from 5 to about 90 mole percent; b is from 5 to about 90 mole percent;
- c is from about 0.2 to about 20 mole percent;
- d is an integer of from about 1,000 to about 500,000;
- as a water-in-oil emulsion;
- (b) diluting said concentrated aqueous solution of ter- or higher polymer formed in step (a) with additional water;
- (c) mixing the diluted solution of step (b) with taconite tailings under appropriate floc forming conditions; and
- (d) allowing the suspended solids to settle to form an essentially clear aqueous supernatant.
- 2. The process of claim 1 wherein:
- a is from about 30 to about 60 mole percent;
- b is from about 30 to about 60 mole percent; and
- c is from about 1 to about 10 mole percent.
- 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the polymer is a tetrapolymer having the following formula: ##STR11## wherein R, R.sub.1, R.sub.2.sup.+, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, a, b, c and d are as defined in claim 6 and e is between about 0.1 to 20 mole percent.
- 4. The process of claim 3 wherein:
- a is from about 30 to about 60 mole percent;
- b is from about 30 to about 60 mole percent; and
- c is from about 0.1 to about 10 mole percent.
- 5. The process of claim 3 wherein the polymer is a tetrapolymer having the following formula: ##STR12## wherein: R, R.sub.1, R.sub.2.sup.+, R.sub.3 and d are as defined in claim 6,
- e is between about 0.1 to 20 mole percent;
- f is from about 5 to about 90 mole percent;
- g is from about 5 to about 90 mole percent; and
- h is from about 0.2 to about 20 mole percent.
- 6. The process of claim 5 wherein:
- f is from about 30 to about 60 mole percent;
- g is from about 30 to about 60 mole percent; and
- h is from about 1 to about 10 mole percent.
- 7. The process of claim 1 wherein the polymer has the following formula: ##STR13## wherein: R.sub.2.sup.+ is Na.sup.+ or K.sup.+ ;
- R.sub.7 is methyl, ethyl or butyl;
- f is from about 5 to about 90 mole percent;
- g is from about 5 to about 90 mole percent; and
- h is from about 0.2 to about 20 mole percent.
- 8. The process of claim 7 wherein:
- f is from about 30 to about 60 mole percent;
- g is from about 30 to about 60 mole percent; and
- h is from about 1 to about 10 mole percent.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 508,412, filing data June 28, 1983, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 320,493, filing date Nov. 12, 1981, both now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (17)
Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
508412 |
Jun 1983 |
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Parent |
320493 |
Nov 1981 |
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