Disclosed herein are methods and systems for recovery of ancylite, a rare earth mineral comprising strontium carbonate, from rare earth ore. In many embodiments, the disclosed methods and systems provide for recovery of greater than 50% of the ancylite from an ancylite containing ore. In many embodiments, the ore is subjected to flotation in the presence of an acid, for example a hydroxamic acid, such as octanohydroxamic acid. The ore may also be subjected to magnetic separation, for example wet high intensity magnetic separation.

Disclosed herein are methods and systems for recovery of ancylite, a rare earth mineral comprising strontium carbonate, from rare earth ore. In many embodiments, the disclosed methods and systems provide for recovery of greater than 50% of the ancylite from an ancylite containing ore. In many embodiments, the ore is subjected to flotation in the presence of an acid, for example a hydroxamic acid, such as octanohydroxamic acid. The ore may also be subjected to magnetic separation, for example wet high intensity magnetic separation.

A family of amine mining collectors that uses alkoxylates allows for the easy adjustment of solubility and molecular weight useful because anionic and cationic mineral collectors require such varying degrees of solubility and molecular weight. The family of the present invention allows for the optimization of both parameters and an increase in collector efficiency.

A process for producing an iron ore having a sulfur content reduced to 0.08% or less, which includes a step of subjecting an iron ore containing sulfur in an amount of more than 0.08% and 2% or less to a flotation. The flotation satisfies any one of the following (1) to (3): (1) a xanthate-based compound and a salt of an amine compound are used as collectors, (2) a xanthate-based compound is used as a collector and a substance which releases a sulfur ion in water is used as an activator, or (3) a xanthate-based compound and a salt of an amine compound are used as collectors and a substance which releases a sulfur ion in water is used as an activator.

A process for producing an iron ore having a sulfur content reduced to 0.08% or less, which includes a step of subjecting an iron ore containing sulfur in an amount of more than 0.08% and 2% or less to a flotation. The flotation satisfies any one of the following (1) to (3): (1) a xanthate-based compound and a salt of an amine compound are used as collectors, (2) a xanthate-based compound is used as a collector and a substance which releases a sulfur ion in water is used as an activator, or (3) a xanthate-based compound and a salt of an amine compound are used as collectors and a substance which releases a sulfur ion in water is used as an activator.

Disclosed herein are systems for removing particulate matter from a fluid, comprising a particle functionalized by attachment of at least one activating group or amine functional group, wherein the modified particle complexes with the particulate matter within the fluid to form a removable complex therein. The particulate matter has preferably been contacted, complexed or reacted with a tethering agent. The system is particularly advantageous to removing particulate matter from a tailing solution.

Disclosed herein are systems for removing particulate matter from a fluid, comprising a particle functionalized by attachment of at least one activating group or amine functional group, wherein the modified particle complexes with the particulate matter within the fluid to form a removable complex therein. The particulate matter has preferably been contacted, complexed or reacted with a tethering agent. The system is particularly advantageous to removing particulate matter from a tailing solution.

A collector composition and process to treat ores with a collector composition that comprises a nitrile group-containing compound of the formula (I)

##STR00001##

wherein R is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, hydrocarbon group containing 8 to 26 carbon atoms,

##STR00002##

R is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, hydrocarbon group containing 1 to 26 carbon atoms or a hydrogen atom or (-(D).sub.j-C.sub.nH.sub.2nCN) group or R-((A).sub.m-(B)).sub.x group, A is (OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2); (OCH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2) or (OCH(CH.sub.2CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2), B is (OC.sub.pH.sub.2p), D is (CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O); (CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O) or (CH(CH.sub.2CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O), x is 0 or 1, R is hydrocarbon group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, Y is halide or methylsulfate, m, j are each independently an integer of 0-5, R is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, hydrocarbon group containing 1 to 26 carbon atoms, and n and p are each independently an integer of 1 to 5.

A collector composition and process to treat ores with a collector composition that comprises a nitrile group-containing compound of the formula (I)

##STR00001##

wherein R is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, hydrocarbon group containing 8 to 26 carbon atoms,

##STR00002##

R is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, hydrocarbon group containing 1 to 26 carbon atoms or a hydrogen atom or (-(D).sub.j-C.sub.nH.sub.2nCN) group or R-((A).sub.m-(B)).sub.x group, A is (OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2); (OCH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2) or (OCH(CH.sub.2CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2), B is (OC.sub.pH.sub.2p), D is (CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O); (CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O) or (CH(CH.sub.2CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O), x is 0 or 1, R is hydrocarbon group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, Y is halide or methylsulfate, m, j are each independently an integer of 0-5, R is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, hydrocarbon group containing 1 to 26 carbon atoms, and n and p are each independently an integer of 1 to 5.

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.