Disclosed are a slow-release inhibitor for high-magnesium sulfide mineral flotation and an application thereof, where the inhibitor is a nano colloidal particle of an alkaline earth fluoride such as CaF.sub.2 and BaF.sub.2 or a highly-reactive natural alkaline earth metal mineral powder. When applied to the flotation separation of a high-magnesium sulfide ore, the inhibitor can slowly release F ions to preferentially form a MgF.sub.2 layer on the magnesium-containing mineral surface, which provides a structure similar to MgF.sub.2 on a surface of oxidized gangue minerals such as magnesium oxide, changing surface electrical property of the magnesium-containing mineral, inhibiting heterogeneous coagulation of magnesium-containing minerals and sulfide ores due to electrostatic attraction and reducing entrainment, enveloping and agglomeration of gangue minerals to efficiently inhibit the flotation of oxidized gangue minerals such as magnesium oxide.

Disclosed are a slow-release inhibitor for high-magnesium sulfide mineral flotation and an application thereof, where the inhibitor is a nano colloidal particle of an alkaline earth fluoride such as CaF.sub.2 and BaF.sub.2 or a highly-reactive natural alkaline earth metal mineral powder. When applied to the flotation separation of a high-magnesium sulfide ore, the inhibitor can slowly release F ions to preferentially form a MgF.sub.2 layer on the magnesium-containing mineral surface, which provides a structure similar to MgF.sub.2 on a surface of oxidized gangue minerals such as magnesium oxide, changing surface electrical property of the magnesium-containing mineral, inhibiting heterogeneous coagulation of magnesium-containing minerals and sulfide ores due to electrostatic attraction and reducing entrainment, enveloping and agglomeration of gangue minerals to efficiently inhibit the flotation of oxidized gangue minerals such as magnesium oxide.

A method of depressing copper sulfides and iron sulfides in a molybdenite flotation recovery process that uses alkaline or alkaline earth polysulfides. The method of enriching molybdenite content from a slurry having molybdenite and at least one of iron sulfides and copper sulfides can include the steps of adding an effective amount of a depressing reagent selected from one or more alkaline polysulfides, alkaline earth polysulfides, or a mixture thereof, to the slurry, wherein the pH of the slurry is greater than about 8.0; and passing a gas through the slurry to separate material by selective flotation, and recovering the molybdenite from a froth.

A method of depressing copper sulfides and iron sulfides in a molybdenite flotation recovery process that uses alkaline or alkaline earth polysulfides. The method of enriching molybdenite content from a slurry having molybdenite and at least one of iron sulfides and copper sulfides can include the steps of adding an effective amount of a depressing reagent selected from one or more alkaline polysulfides, alkaline earth polysulfides, or a mixture thereof, to the slurry, wherein the pH of the slurry is greater than about 8.0; and passing a gas through the slurry to separate material by selective flotation, and recovering the molybdenite from a froth.

The present invention discloses mining collector compositions containing sodium metabisulfite and a thiocarbonate compound. Flotation processes for recovering molybdenum from a copper-molybdenum concentrate using the collector compositions also are disclosed.

The present invention discloses mining collector compositions containing sodium metabisulfite and a thiocarbonate compound. Flotation processes for recovering molybdenum from a copper-molybdenum concentrate using the collector compositions also are disclosed.

Methods for niobium concentration from a carbonatite host rock are presented. A basic process for niobium mineral concentration involves performing niobium mineral flotation, on a sufficiently liberated ore slurry, using at one least aromatic hydroxamate collector; and at least one lead salt as a performance modifier. A more optimized process further includes dispersion. A further optimized process includes: magnetic separation, dispersion, sulphide removal, fine suspended particle removal, and niobium cleaner flotation stages. The use of one of number of tested lead salts during flotation improves the yield, and lowers the cost as a significantly lower amount of the collector is required. The process is useful for recovering a variety of species of niobium minerals such as fersmite, pyrochlore, columbite, fergusonite, niobium-containing rutile, and niobium-containing ilmenite.

A system for recovering fat, oil and grease (FOG) from wastewater has multiple annular flotation zones in a concentric configuration surrounding a central column to create progressively increasing surface areas for FOG and solid particles flotation, and thereby enhance FOG recovery and removal. Each flotation zone is equipped with an independent pressurized micro air and ozone bubbles distribution system. A controlled amount of ozone can be injected into the wastewater along with recirculated effluent and micro-size air bubbles. Upon the release of pressurized air-ozone-water mixture, micro-size bubbles are generated and distributed in each flotation zone to effectively float up FOG and solid particles in the wastewater stream.

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 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.