The invention concerns a flocculation formulation. The invention also concerns the treatment of mine tailings in the form of aqueous effluents comprising solid particles. With the method of the invention, it is possible to separate all or part of the water from an aqueous effluent comprising solid particles.

A magnesium suppressant/flocculant for use in separating dolomite from calcium phosphate. The magnesium suppressant/flocculant may be applied at a mine site prior to subjecting ore fractions to phosphate flotation or at a chemical plant after grinding.

A floatation separation apparatus includes a stirring tank, a stirring pump installed in the stirring tank, a floatation tank into which flocculated water flows from the stirring tank through an overflow dam, a scraping device (scraper) configured to scrape floating substances in the floatation tank, a treated water tank into which treated water in the floatation tank flows, and a pump and a hose for returning the treated water in the treated water tank to a raw water tank. The stirring pump sucks air and water inside the stirring tank, and discharges water mixed with air bubbles to a lower part of the stirring tank. The height of the overflow dam is adjustable.

A process for treating and dewatering tailings comprising fine clay minerals, fine rock-forming minerals and water is provided, comprising treating the tailings with a sufficient amount of a collector to modify the surface properties of both the fine clays and rock-forming minerals; subjecting the treated tailings to froth flotation to form a fine clays and rock-forming minerals froth layer; and recovering the froth layer and subjecting it to dewatering.

A magnesium suppressant/flocculant for use in separating dolomite from calcium phosphate. The magnesium suppressant/flocculant may be applied at a mine site prior to subjecting ore fractions to phosphate flotation or at a chemical plant after grinding.

Selective polysaccharide agents or flocculants comprise one or more types of polysaccharides comprising one or more types of pentosan units. Also disclosed are processes for enriching a desired mineral from an ore comprising the desired mineral and gangue and/or other minerals, wherein the process comprises treating the ore in an aqueous medium with one or more selective polysaccharide agents or flocculants comprising one or more types of polysaccharides comprising one or more types of pentosan units.

In alternative embodiments, provided are methods and processes for the removal of cadmium (Cd) from wet-process phosphoric acid that may contain Cd, including excessive amounts of Cd. The process developed is based on the application of commercially available ion exchange resins with the application of Continuous Ion Exchange (CIX) technology. In alternative embodiments, provided are processes and methods for the recovery and/or the removal of cadmium from wet-process phosphoric acid using a continuous ion exchange approach. In alternative embodiments, use of processes and methods as provided herein allows for the reduction of cadmium metal contaminants with minimal phosphate losses and dilution in order to produce a phosphoric acid that is suitable for the production of fertilizers and phosphoric acid products, such as world-class diammonium phosphate fertilizer (DAP), merchant-grade phosphoric acid, super-phosphoric acid, and other phosphoric acid products.

The present embodiments generally relate to a technology for improving Cu/Mo grade by the addition of cationic polymers as selective depressants for acid insoluble matters, e.g., silicates and/or clays, in the flotation circuit. Various types of cationic polymers are demonstrated to be effective depressants including polyamine, polyDADMAC, and cationic polyacrylamide. Also disclosed are processes for enriching a desired mineral from an ore comprising the desired mineral and gangue, wherein the process comprises carrying out a flotation process in the presence of one or more cationic polymer depressants.

A method of preparing a water in oil emulsion comprises forming a mixture of oil and emulsifying agent, progressively adding an aqueous salt solution to the mixture and dispersing the aqueous salt solution into the mixture. A concentrated water in oil emulsion is formed with drops of the aqueous salt solution (1) packed inside the oil solution phase (2). The emulsion is added to water and then mixed so that the emulsion absorbs the water. The salt concentration of the emulsion relative to the salt concentration of the water is controlled. Methods of agglomerating fine hydrophobic particles in a slurry using the water in oil emulsion are provided, where the emulsion is added to the slurry and then mixed so that the emulsion absorbs the water in the slurry. The salt concentration of the emulsion relative to the salt concentration of the slurry is controlled.

A process of flotation of partially or fully liberated metal-bearing or industrial minerals, hydrocarbon matter, oil or bitumen from an ore includes combining an indifferent salt to a flotation system to increase efficiency of the flotation process as well as the subsequent flotation concentrate and tailings solid-liquid separation.