This invention relates to a collector composition for the direct froth flotation of nonsulfide ores comprising a) 50-99 wt.-% of a mixture of fatty acids and b) 1-50 wt.-% of an N-acyl derivative of sarcosine of the formula (I) ##STR00001## wherein R is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain with 7 to 21 carbon atoms, wherein the mixture of comprises 10.0-35.0 wt.-% of fatty acid having a saturated C.sub.11 hydrocarbon group, 2.5-15.0 wt.-% of fatty acid having a saturated C.sub.13 hydrocarbon group, 10.0-25.0 wt.-% fatty acid having a monounsaturated C.sub.17 hydrocarbon group and 20.0-45.0 wt.-% fatty acid having a bisunsaturated C.sub.17 hydrocarbon group.

Improved sparge compositions for reverse froth flotation separation and uses thereof, and improved methods of reverse froth flotation are described. Described are sparge compositions comprising collectors and beneficiating agents, the collectors comprising sulfonated fatty acids and/or salts thereof, and the beneficiating agents comprising a hydroxy fatty acid composition. The sparge compositions are suitably used in the reverse froth flotation to separate phosphate beneficiary from ores comprising phosphate and dolomite, calcite, silicate, and/or other gangues. The disclosed compositions and methods exhibit improved separation of phosphate from such ores.

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.

The present invention relates to a compound obtainable by the condensation of a polyol having 3-4 hydroxyl groups, adicarboxylic acid or a derivative thereof, an alkanolamine and a fatty acid, followed by reaction with an alkylating agent. This compound is useful as a collector in a process for the reverse froth flotation of non-sulfidic ores containing silicate as impurities, especially phosphate ores.

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.

This invention relates to a collector composition for the direct froth flotation of nonsulfide ores comprising a) 50-99 wt.-% of a mixture of fatty acids and b) 1-50 wt.-% of an N-acyl derivative of sarcosine of the formula (I)

##STR00001## wherein R is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain with 7 to 21 carbon atoms, wherein the mixture of comprises 10.0-35.0 wt.-% of fatty acid having a saturated C.sub.11 hydrocarbon group, 2.5-15.0 wt.-% of fatty acid having a saturated C.sub.13 hydrocarbon group, 10.0-25.0 wt.-% fatty acid having a monounsaturated C.sub.17 hydrocarbon group and 20.0-45.0 wt.-% fatty acid having a bisunsaturated C.sub.17 hydrocarbon group.

The invention relates to a flotation agent for lithium or phosphate ore, comprising at least one fatty acid and at least one 1-alkyl-5-oxopyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid or 1-alkenyl-5-oxopyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid or a mixture thereof of the formula (1) ##STR00001##
wherein R is a C.sub.7 to C.sub.21 alkyl or alkenyl group, wherein the amount of fatty acid is from 70 to 99 wt.-%, and wherein the amount of the 1-alkyl-5-oxopyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid or 1-alkenyl-5-oxopyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid of the formula (I) is from 1 to 30 wt.-%.

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.

The invention is related to a flotation process using an improved collector to remove alkaline earth metal carbonate impurities from phosphate ores. The flotation feed may be conditioned with the improved carbonate collector at acidic pH, and subjected to a reverse flotation. The cell overflow may be collected as waste in which carbonate minerals dominate, and the cell underflow may be the phosphate concentrate. The collector may be a combination of chemicals, comprising: (1) any kind of fatty acids, either conventional fatty acid, saponified fatty acid, or modified fatty acid; (2) chemicals with sulfonate or sulfate groups, such as dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DDBSA) or its salt, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium coco sulfate (SCS), etc.; and (3) phosphorous-bearing chemicals, such as sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), sodium hexametaphosphate (SFMP), trisodium phosphate (TSP), Tetrasodiumpyrophosphate (TSPP), etc. With the improved collector, the separation selectivity and phosphate recovery may be significantly improved.