The present embodiments generally relate to a technology for improving Cu/Mo grade by the addition of cationic polymers as selective depressants for acid insoluble matters, e.g., silicates and/or clays, in the flotation circuit. Various types of cationic polymers are demonstrated to be effective depressants including polyamine, polyDADMAC, and cationic polyacrylamide. Also disclosed are processes for enriching a desired mineral from an ore comprising the desired mineral and gangue, wherein the process comprises carrying out a flotation process in the presence of one or more cationic polymer depressants.

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a concentrate enriched in a phosphate mineral content from an ore, which contains a phosphate mineral and a non-phosphate mineral, by a flotation, which method comprises the step of adding a surfactant system comprising (A) a fatty acid, (B) a blend of ethoxylated and non-ethoxylated alcohols, which is obtainable by blending (i) a reaction product of a first C.sub.12-C.sub.16 aliphatic alcohol having an average degree of branching of 1.9 to 3.5 and 10 to 20 equivalents of ethylene oxide, and (ii) a second C.sub.12-C.sub.16 aliphatic alcohol having an average degree of branching of 1.9 to 3.5, wherein the amount of (i) is 80 to 95 wt. % and the amount of (ii) is 5 to 20 wt. % and wt. % is based on the overall weight of the mixture of ethoxylated and non-ethoxylated alcohols, to a prepared aqueous pulp of the ore and optionally one or more flotation auxiliaries to obtain an aqueous mixture. Furthermore, a use of the surfactant system as flotation collector is disclosed.

A hydrometallurgical method for simultaneously extracting zinc, lead, silver, iron and calcium from electric arc furnace dust (hazardous waste) produced by the steelmaking industry (steelworks), in the form of industrial products: zinc as zinc sulphate or zinc cathodes; lead and silver as a concentrate of lead and silver; iron as reduced elemental iron for return to the electric arc furnace; and, lastly, calcium as gypsum, without solid waste or liquid effluents being generated relates to the chemical nature of the electric arc furnace dust (complex oxides) changes to a sulfide complex, and eliminating the hazards associated with the generation of fugitive heavy-metal salts. In addition, the hydrometallurgical problem of low recovery of zinc and iron is solved. Consequently, hydrometallurgy is made easier and more environmentally friendly, as condensed water is used as a leachate, the condensed water being continuously regenerated by vacuum evaporation systems without generating effluents.

The flotation reagents from acidic olive oil are made by transesterification of acidic olive oil. Acidic olive oil is olive oil having an acid value high enough to render it unsuitable for consumption, typically greater than 3.3% and/or between 3.3-7%. Transesterification of the olive oil with methanol converts fatty acids in the olive oil to an ester fraction and a glycerol fraction. The ester fraction may be sulfonated and used as the collector in a reverse flotation process, selectively removing the carbonate gangue from phosphate-carbonate rock in the froth, leaving phosphates in the sink. The glycerol fraction may be used without modification as the collector in the reverse flotation process. Both fractions are highly selective for carbonates, substantially reducing loss of phosphates in the froth.

A flotation method for mineral processing is disclosed. The method for floating includes a first step of using a first carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) in a first flotation cell, and a subsequent step includes using a second CMC in a subsequent flotation cell, the first and second CMCs having different characteristics. The first flotation cell may be used in at least one rougher stage and/or at least one rougher-scavenger stage of the flotation method, and the subsequent flotation cell may be used in at least one cleaner stage, and/or at least one cleaner scavenger stage, and/or at least one recleaner stage of the flotation method. A product may be obtained, directly or indirectly, by such a method. A mineral processing plant may use at least two CMCs of different characteristics in flotation for mineral processing.

Providing a method for selecting minerals containing arsenic. A peptide comprising an amino acids sequence according to the following formula: (T, S, N, or Q)-(H, P, or W)-(E, or D)-(H, P, W, R, or K)-(L, I, V, F, or A)-(L, I, V, F, or A)-(L, I, V, F, or A)-(T, S, N, or Q)-(H, P, or W)-(L, I, V, F, or A)-(T, S, N, or Q)-(L, I, V, F, or A) wherein one amino acid is respectively selected from each group defined by paired parentheses.

Multi-extraction methods for preparing hemicellulose compositions are provided. Depressant compositions comprising hemicellulose compositions are also provided herein. Also disclosed are processes for enriching a desired mineral from an ore comprising the desired mineral, wherein the process comprises carrying out a flotation process in the presence of one or more collecting agents and a depressant composition comprising hemicellulose.

Presently claimed invention is directed to a collector composition for the beneficiation of a mineral comprising at least one component (A) selected from the group consisting of anionic (A1) surfactants, cationic (A2) surfactants, ampholytic (A3) surfactants and non-ionic surfactants (A4), and at least one component (B) selected from the group consisting of alkoxylated polyalkyleneimine (B1) and alkoxylated hexamethylene diamine (B2).

A method is provided for using flotation techniques for separating rare earth metal compounds from bastnaesite ore. The method can include grinding the ore to obtain an aqueous slurry of particles, adding a depressant agent to the slurry and adjusting the pH to a suitable value for the flotation process, adding a collector mixture to the slurry that includes at least one hydroxamic acid, and adding a frother agent to the slurry, followed by subjecting the slurry to froth flotation.

A process for the depression of iron sulphides and other disposable elements in the mineral concentration by flotation and electrochemical reactor. The proposed invention represents a method based on the action of electrodes on the mineral, which can replace, compliment or minimise the consumption of chemical reagents, as well as improving the effect thereof.