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.

According to the invention there is provided a method of processing a mixture of minerals including the steps of: (a) providing a mixture of minerals which includes a metal containing mineral and one or more unwanted gangue minerals; (b) achieving a contact between the mixture of minerals and polymeric material that includes a mineral binding moiety which selectively binds to the metal containing mineral; and (c) separating the gangue minerals and the polymeric material which has the metal containing mineral bound thereto.

According to the invention there is provided a method of processing a mixture of minerals including the steps of: (a) providing a mixture of minerals which includes a metal containing mineral and one or more unwanted gangue minerals; (b) achieving a contact between the mixture of minerals and polymeric material that includes a mineral binding moiety which selectively binds to the metal containing mineral; and (c) separating the gangue minerals and the polymeric material which has the metal containing mineral bound thereto.

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.

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.

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.

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for lithium ore beneficiation. The methods and compositions are suitable for use in flotation of lithium ore sources such as pegmatite, Zinnwaldite, Jadarite, or lithium mica. The methods include combining a lithium ore source, a water source, a collector, and optionally a frother to form a lithium beneficiation slurry; sparging the lithium beneficiation slurry; separating the sparged lithium beneficiation slurry to form a lithium beneficiary and a gangue; and collecting the lithium beneficiary, where the collector includes an oleic acid source, a hydroxycarboxylic acid, and a surfactant. The collectors obtain improved performance in terms of purity of lithium recovered from the ore, as a function of percent lithium recovery.

Collector compositions C for mineral flotation, which include at least one of a hydroxamic acid A, and/or a salt S of a hydroxamic acid A solubilized in a water-soluble organic solvent L, and processes for using same for recovering sulfide and/or oxide minerals in mineral flotation processes are provided herewith.