Disclosed is an application of a class of selenium-containing organic compounds in copper sulfide flotation collectors, including organic compound with selenium atoms as functional groups and containing single selenium atom or multiple selenium atoms, where the organic compound with selenium atoms as functional groups and containing single selenium atom or multiple selenium atoms includes but not limited to selenophene, phenylselenol and diselenide as copper collectors; and a class of organic compound containing selenium atoms combined with nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur and carbon, where the class of organic compound containing selenium atoms combined with nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur and carbon includes but not limited to selenomethyl ester, carbonyl selenomethyl ester, oxycarbonyl selenomethyl ester, selenourea, selenium nitrogen, selenoxanthonic acid, selenoxanthate, selenophosphoric acid, selenium phosphate ester, triphenylphosphine selenide, all kinds of benzoselenediazole molecules as copper collectors.

The present invention relates to the use of branched fatty alcohol-based compounds selected from the group of fatty alcohols with 12-16 carbon atoms having a degree of branching of 1-3, and their alkoxylates with a degree of ethoxylation of up to 3, as secondary collectors for the froth flotation of non-sulfidic ores, in combination with a primary collector selected from the group of amphoteric and anionic surface active compounds.

The present invention relates to the use of branched fatty alcohol-based compounds selected from the group of fatty alcohols with 12-16 carbon atoms having a degree of branching of 1-3, and their alkoxylates with a degree of ethoxylation of up to 3, as secondary collectors for the froth flotation of non-sulfidic ores, in combination with a primary collector selected from the group of amphoteric and anionic surface active compounds.

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.

Methods of increasing the rate of separating hydrophobic and hydrophilic particles by flotation have been developed. They are based on using appropriate reagents to enhance the hydrophobicity of the particles to be floated, so that they can be more readily collected by the air bubbles used in flotation. The hydrophobicity-enhancing reagents include low HLB surfactants, naturally occurring lipids, modified lipids, and hydrophobic polymers. These methods can greatly increase the rate of flotation for the particles that are usually difficult to float, such as ultrafine particles, coarse particles, middlings, and the particles that do not readily float in the water containing large amounts of ions derived from the particles. In addition, new collectos for the flotation of phosphate minerals are disclosed.

Methods of increasing the rate of separating hydrophobic and hydrophilic particles by flotation have been developed. They are based on using appropriate reagents to enhance the hydrophobicity of the particles to be floated, so that they can be more readily collected by the air bubbles used in flotation. The hydrophobicity-enhancing reagents include low HLB surfactants, naturally occurring lipids, modified lipids, and hydrophobic polymers. These methods can greatly increase the rate of flotation for the particles that are usually difficult to float, such as ultrafine particles, coarse particles, middlings, and the particles that do not readily float in the water containing large amounts of ions derived from the particles. In addition, new collectos for the flotation of phosphate minerals are disclosed.

Methods of enhancing recovery of value sulfide and/or precious-metal minerals from an ore containing said minerals and a Mg-silicate, slime forming mineral, and/or clay, and which is subjected to a froth flotation process, by adding to one or more stage of the froth flotation process a froth phase modifier having a polymer containing one or more functional groups, and optionally a monovalent ion modifier enhancing agent, thereby enhancing recovery of a value sulfide mineral and/or a precious metal-bearing mineral.

A collector composition for the separation by flotation of carbonates contained in phosphate rock, wherein the collector composition has propoxylated and ethoxylated phosphoric esters; use of the phosphoric esters and the collectors having these phosphoric esters in the separation by flotation of carbonates contained in phosphate rock.

A collector composition for the separation by flotation of carbonates contained in phosphate rock, wherein the collector composition has propoxylated and ethoxylated phosphoric esters; use of the phosphoric esters and the collectors having these phosphoric esters in the separation by flotation of carbonates contained in phosphate rock.

A method for improving the rheological properties of mineral slurry comprising adding a copolymeric dispersing agent to the slurry to disperse silicate minerals. Also disclosed is a method for flotating mineral slurry.