Methods of making various capillary foams are provided. The foams can include liquid foams having a plurality of particles connected by a network of a secondary fluid at the interface between the discontinuous and continuous phase. The foams can also include solid foams where the continuous phases (bulk fluid) is removed to produce the solid foam having high overall porosities and low densities. Densities as low as 0.3 g cm.sup.3 and porosities as high as 95% or higher can be achieved. The secondary fluid can be polymerized to further strengthen the solid foam. Methods and devices are also provided for oil recovery from water using a capillary foam. The methods can include forming a capillary foam wherein the oil is the secondary fluid, and wherein the foam can transport the oil to the surface of the water.

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 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.

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.

The disclosure relates to mineral processing, and more particularly to a copper(II)-ammonia complex ion sulfidization activator, and its preparation and application. A molar ratio of NH3 to Cu.sup.2+ in the active ingredient of the copper(II)-ammonia complex ion sulfidization activator is 2:1-4:1. The preparation method includes: dropwise adding an ammonia solution to a copper salt solution; and adjusting the mixture to pH 6-7.2 with dilute sulfuric acid to obtain the copper(II)-ammonia complex ion sulfidization activator. During the sulfidization flotation for the copper oxide ore, the copper(II)-ammonia complex ion sulfidization activator is added and mixed uniformly with the ore slurry prior to the introduction of the sulfidizing agent.

The present invention provides improved methods for purifying and/or removing multiply charged cations and suspended solids from water. In particular the process relates to an additive composition that has the appropriate surfactant characteristics for effectively removing multiply charged cations and suspended solids from an aqueous or oil/aqueous mixed phase via foam fractionation. According to the invention, a hydrophobically modified polymer that acts as an associative thickener is used in the presence of a source of alkalinity or anionic reactant as well as surfactant in appropriate ratios to facilitate multiply charged cation and suspended solids removal for water purification in any of a number of commercial, environmental and industrial applications.

The invention belongs to the field of mineral flotation collector materials, and particularly discloses a method for preparing thionocarbamate. In the preparation process, xanthate and 2-haloethanol are esterified to obtain O-alkyl-S-hydroxyethyl xanthate, and then O-alkyl-S-hydroxyethyl xanthate and fatty amine are reacted to obtain a mixture of thionocarbamate and 2-mercaptoethanol. The mixture of thionocarbamate and 2-mercaptoethanol is washed with alkali, and the oil phase and water phase are separated. The oil phase and water phase are thionocarbamate and 2-hydroxyethylthiolate, respectively, and 2-mercaptoethanol is obtained by washing with an acid. 2-alkylthioethanol is obtained by reacting 2-hydroxyethanethiolate with alkyl halide, and then with carbon disulfide and alkali to prepare O-alkylthioethyl xanthate. Thionocarbamate, 2-mercaptoethanol and O-alkylthioethyl xanthate prepared by this method possess high yield and high purity. The process is green and environmentally friendly, and is beneficial to the industrialization of co-production.

The invention belongs to the field of mineral flotation collector materials, and particularly discloses a method for preparing thionocarbamate. In the preparation process, xanthate and 2-haloethanol are esterified to obtain O-alkyl-S-hydroxyethyl xanthate, and then O-alkyl-S-hydroxyethyl xanthate and fatty amine are reacted to obtain a mixture of thionocarbamate and 2-mercaptoethanol. The mixture of thionocarbamate and 2-mercaptoethanol is washed with alkali, and the oil phase and water phase are separated. The oil phase and water phase are thionocarbamate and 2-hydroxyethylthiolate, respectively, and 2-mercaptoethanol is obtained by washing with an acid. 2-alkylthioethanol is obtained by reacting 2-hydroxyethanethiolate with alkyl halide, and then with carbon disulfide and alkali to prepare O-alkylthioethyl xanthate. Thionocarbamate, 2-mercaptoethanol and O-alkylthioethyl xanthate prepared by this method possess high yield and high purity. The process is green and environmentally friendly, and is beneficial to the industrialization of co-production.

A method for preparing xanthate by a slurry method includes steps of: adding a mixture of dichloromethane and carbon disulfide as a reaction solvent in a slurry reactor, and then adding alcohol and caustic alkali to react with carbon disulfide under less than 1 atm to remove heat released by the reaction by evaporating the solvent; performing vacuum distillation after the reaction to remove the solvent and water, so as to obtain the xanthate; transporting the xanthate to a granulation equipment for granulating, and then drying in a drying equipment to obtain a product. The method is performed in a system formed by a reaction equipment, a solvent recovery equipment, the granulation equipment, and the drying equipment, wherein a main equipment of the reaction system is a slurry reactor. The method has advantages of high efficiency, low energy consumption, good safety, environmental friendliness, convenient operation and the like.