The present invention provides improved methods for purifying and/or removing oily particles, and/or contaminants suspended or dissolved in water. In particular the process relates to an additive composition that has the appropriate surfactant characteristics for effectively removing an oil phase from an oil/aqueous mixed phase via foam fractionation. According to the invention, a hydrophobically modified polymer that acts as an associative thickener is combined with surfactant in appropriate ratios to facilitate oil removal for water purification in any of a number of commercial, environmental and industrial applications.

A cold water saponification method is disclosed. The method is for preferred use in industrial applications such as mining operations wherein saponification of fatty acids is required. Broadly, the method comprises the steps of filling a tank with a solution comprising water, a base and fatty acids, installing a mixer capable of creating a vortex in order to effectively saponify fatty acid particles. The use of a high-shear mixer installed vertically has been proven successful in saponifying fatty acids in cold water.

One or more surfactants and one or more adjuvant gases in the hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes, which are added thereto in the state of nanobubbles and microbubbles, both the gases used and the nanobubbles and the microbubbles thereof, are in a variable proportion depending on the physicochemical requirements of each of the stages of the process where it is applied. The nanobubbles and microbubbles, of the proposed composition, make it possible to significantly increase the physicochemical properties of these gases such as: flotation speed, oxidizing power, reducing power, contact area provided and coalescence speed.

One or more surfactants and one or more adjuvant gases in the hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes, which are added thereto in the state of nanobubbles and microbubbles, both the gases used and the nanobubbles and the microbubbles thereof, are in a variable proportion depending on the physicochemical requirements of each of the stages of the process where it is applied. The nanobubbles and microbubbles, of the proposed composition, make it possible to significantly increase the physicochemical properties of these gases such as: flotation speed, oxidizing power, reducing power, contact area provided and coalescence speed.

Described herein are methods for flotation of an ore. The methods include providing an aqueous suspension having an ore in the form of particles, water, and a first frothing agent including a poly(tetrahydrofuran), in a flotation cell to obtain a provided aqueous suspension. The method further includes introducing air into the provided aqueous suspension to obtain a froth. Further described herein are specific aqueous suspensions having ore particles and poly(tetrahydrofuran) and uses of poly(tetrahydrofuran) as a frothing agent for an aqueous suspension having an ore in the form of particles.

Described herein are methods for flotation of an ore. The methods include providing an aqueous suspension having an ore in the form of particles, water, and a first frothing agent including a poly(tetrahydrofuran), in a flotation cell to obtain a provided aqueous suspension. The method further includes introducing air into the provided aqueous suspension to obtain a froth. Further described herein are specific aqueous suspensions having ore particles and poly(tetrahydrofuran) and uses of poly(tetrahydrofuran) as a frothing agent for an aqueous suspension having an ore in the form of particles.

A process for cleaning and dewatering hydrophobic particulate materials is presented. The process is performed in in two steps: 1) agglomeration of the hydrophobic particles in a first hydrophobic liquid/aqueous mixture; followed by 2) dispersion of the agglomerates in a second hydrophobic liquid to release the water trapped within the agglomerates along with the entrained hydrophilic particles.

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.

An aqueous formulation for use in slick water fracturing, water treatment, enhanced oil recovery, drilling, erosion control, dust abatement or mining flotation operations includes (i) one or more than one polymer (AA) which is a water-soluble polymer; (ii) water; (iii) one or more than one quaternary ammonium compound; and (iv) one or more than one scale inhibitor.

The present invention provides improved methods for purifying and/or removing oily particles, and/or contaminants suspended or dissolved in water. In particular the process relates to an additive composition that has the appropriate surfactant characteristics for effectively removing an oil phase from an oil/aqueous mixed phase via foam fractionation. According to the invention, a hydrophobically modified polymer that acts as an associative thickener is combined with surfactant in appropriate ratios to facilitate oil removal for water purification in any of a number of commercial, environmental and industrial applications.