This invention relates to an composition, comprising A) at least one quaternary ammonium compound which is a collector for the reverse flotation of magnesium minerals from calcium carbonate B) at least one antifoam agent C) a solvent
and its use in the reverse flotation of calcium carbonate.

Described herein is a method for the recovery of two major valuable lithium minerals (amblygonite and spodumene), a cesium mineral (pollucite) and quartz. The method comprises a series of direct flotation processes combined with reverse flotation processes that were designed to recover these lithium and cesium concentrates.

A process for separating clean water which has an impurities content of less than 100 ppm from waste materials such as farm manure is disclosed. In a first step, a plate separator splits the waste material stream into a first effluent fraction and a first solids fraction. The first solids fraction then undergoes two stages of pressing to increase the solids contents to about 30 to 40 percent which makes it suitable for granulation or pelletizing. The first effluent fraction is treated in successive stages with various chemical agents resulting in the removal of most of the solids and inorganic impurities from the effluent to achieve drinkable water purity.

Compositions including blends of one or more acrylamide/allyl thiourea polymer as a first depressant, and one or more carboxyalkyl dithiocarbamate compound as a second depressant, and their use as depressants in the beneficiation of sulfide minerals from ores and/or concentrates are disclosed herein, along with methods for selectively separating value sulfide minerals from non-value sulfide minerals in a froth flotation process for the recovery of such value minerals.

Various examples are provided in relation to improved recovery and throughput of both fine and coarse particulate materials. In one example, a method includes injecting an aqueous suspension of a cloud of small air bubbles into an aqueous phase including fine particulate materials, wherein the fine particulate material is selectively hydrophobized and collected by small air bubbles; allowing the bubbles to rise in the aqueous phase; and collecting the air bubbles to obtain a concentrate of the fine particulate materials. In another example, a method includes adding a hydrophobizing agent to an aqueous phase to render coarse particulate material selectively hydrophobic; allowing air bubbles to attach to the coarse particulate material and changing the apparent specific gravity of the coarse particulate materials so a layer of one type of coarse particle is formed on top; allowing the one type of coarse particles to float and enter the forth phase.

A portable unit and associated processing are described for clarifying process water used in oil and gas operations such as fracking or drill-out operations. In the portable unit, dirty water (402) is introduced into a clarifier (400). The dirty water (402) is directed to a bottom of the clarifier (400) where dissolved air 408 from a dissolved air flotation pump (410) is injected into the water (402). The water (402) then passes across the inclined plates (412). Particles are separated from the water (402) via interaction with the plates (412) and directed to collectors (414), at the bottom of the clarifier (404), by gravitation. In addition, a floc, enhanced by the injection of the dissolved air (408), is skimmed from the water surface. The result of this process flow is clarified water (430) that can be returned to the frack and post-frack completion process.

Improved sparge compositions for reverse froth flotation separation and uses thereof, and methods of reverse froth flotation are described. The sparge compositions comprise sulfonated polymeric modifiers which can act as dispersants and depressants, and the compositions are suitably used in the reverse froth flotation of particulate material containing ultrafine particles. For example, the compositions and methods can be used in the separation of iron oxide beneficiary from iron ores comprising silica, silicates, and the like.

Improved sparge compositions for reverse froth flotation separation and uses thereof, and methods of reverse froth flotation are described. The sparge compositions comprise sulfonated polymeric modifiers which can act as dispersants and depressants, and the compositions are suitably used in the reverse froth flotation of particulate material containing ultrafine particles. For example, the compositions and methods can be used in the separation of phosphate beneficiary from ores comprising phosphates, dolomite, calcite, clay, silica, silicates, carbonates, and mixtures thereof.

There is provided methods for separating a target material from a raw material by mixing the raw material with water to form a slurry, adding a collector compound to the slurry to modify a relative hydrophobicity of a surface of the target material, adding a facilitator compound to enhance the modification of the relative hydrophobicity of the surface, and forming a froth including a concentrate of the target material. Disclosed methods may also include adding a facilitator compound to a raw material slurry that has been treated with a collector compound and a reagent for neutralizing the collector compound.

Processes for enriching a desired mineral from an ore comprising the desired mineral and gangue, are provided, wherein the process comprises carrying out a flotation process in the presence of one or more chelating agents, one or more collecting agents, one or more types of multivalent metal ions, and optionally, one or more depressants, in a solution, wherein the one or more chelating agents are capable, alone or as a group of compounds, of sequestering a metal or metal ion in the form of a metal-chelating agent complex that remains at least partially soluble in the solution.