FLOTATION AGENT OF THIOL ETHER STRUCTURE

Abstract

The invention relates to a flotation agent of formula (I):

##STR00001## where A is chosen from: (II), (III), or (IV):

##STR00002## in which: the group R represents a hydrogen atom or a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl radical; the group R, which is identical or different from the group R, represents a hydrogen atom or a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl radical; the group R, which is identical or different from the groups R and R, represents a hydrogen atom or a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl radical; n is an integer between 1 and 6; m is an integer between 1 and 20; Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2, are chosen independently from X.sub.1 or a radical C(S)SX.sub.2, wherein X.sub.1 is a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal or an alkaline-earth metal, and X.sub.2 is an alkali metal or an alkaline-earth metal.

Claims

1. A flotation agent of formula (I): ##STR00005## wherein A is a formula selected from: ##STR00006## wherein: the group R is selected from a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl radical; the group R, which may be identical to or different from the group R, is selected from a hydrogen atom, or a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl radical; the group R, which may be identical to or different from the groups R and R, is selected from a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl radical; n is an integer between 1 and 6, limits inclusive; m is an integer between 1 and 20, limits inclusive; the groups Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2, independently of one another, are selected from X.sub.1 or a radical C(S)SX.sub.2; wherein X.sub.1 is selected from a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal or an alkaline-earth metal, and X.sub.2 is selected from an alkali metal or an alkaline-earth metal or hydrogen.

2. The flotation agent according to claim 1, wherein n is an integer between 1 to and 4, limits inclusive.

3. The flotation agent according to claim 1, wherein m is an integer between 2 and 5, limits inclusive.

4. The flotation agent according to claim 1, wherein R, R and R, which may be identical or different, are each independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, or isomers thereof.

5. The flotation agent according to claim 1, wherein A is selected from formula (II) or formula (IV).

6. The flotation agent according to claim 1, wherein X.sub.1 is selected from a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal.

7. The flotation agent according to claim 6, wherein X.sub.1 is a hydrogen atom.

8. The flotation agent according to claim 1, wherein X.sub.2 is an alkali metal.

9. The flotation agent according to claim 1, wherein the groups Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 are hydrogen atoms.

10. The flotation agent according to claim 1, wherein the flotation agent is 1,8-dimercapto-3,6-dioxaoctane.

11. A composition comprising at least one flotation agent according to claim 1.

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. A method for flotation recovery of metal compounds contained in ores, comprising a step of introducing at least one flotation agent according to claim 1 into a flotation cell containing water and a mixture of ores to be separated.

15. A method for flotation recovery of metal compounds contained in ores, comprising a step of introducing at least one composition according to claim 11 into a flotation cell containing water and a mixture of ores to be separated.

16. The flotation agent according to claim 1, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 3, limits inclusive.

17. The flotation agent according to claim 1, wherein A corresponds to formula (II).

18. The flotation agent according to claim 1, wherein X.sub.1 is selected from a hydrogen atom, sodium or potassium.

19. The flotation agent according to claim 1, wherein X.sub.2 is sodium or potassium.

20. The flotation agent according to claim 1, wherein the group R is selected from a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-C.sub.2 alkyl radical.

21. The flotation agent according to claim 1, wherein the group R is selected from a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-C.sub.2 alkyl radical.

22. The flotation agent according to claim 1, wherein the group R is selected from a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-C.sub.2 alkyl radical.

Description

[0042] According to one preferred embodiment, A corresponds to a formula chosen from formulae (II) and (IV).

[0043] According to one preferred embodiment, A corresponds to a formula chosen from formulae (II) and (III).

[0044] According to one particularly preferred embodiment, A corresponds to formula (II).

[0045] Particularly preferably, when the groups R and R represent a hydrogen atom and when m is an integer ranging from 2 to 5, the group A represents an ethoxy, propoxy, methyl(ethoxy), butoxy, (dimethyl)ethoxy, (methyl)propoxy or (ethyl)ethoxy group.

[0046] Advantageously, X.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal, preferably chosen from sodium and potassium.

[0047] Particularly advantageously, X.sub.1 is a hydrogen atom.

[0048] Preferentially, X.sub.2 is an alkali metal, preferably chosen from sodium and potassium.

[0049] Preferably, the groups Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 each represent a hydrogen atom.

[0050] According to another embodiment, the groups Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2, which may be identical or different, each represent a radical C(S)SX.sub.2 where X.sub.2 is as defined above.

[0051] In addition, the agent according to the invention contains heteroatoms. These heteroatoms surprisingly provide the agent according to the invention with a considerable chelating effect, which makes it possible to increase the yield and to improve the stability of the metal derivatives thus formed during the ore extraction by the flotation process, preferably froth flotation process. Moreover, the heteroatoms can also provide a greater wetting capacity, thus making it possible to improve the metal recovery yield.

[0052] Preferably, the heteroatom is chosen from oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen.

[0053] Preferably, the heteroatom is chosen from oxygen and nitrogen.

[0054] Particularly preferably, the heteroatom is oxygen.

[0055] Preferably, the agent according to the invention is 1,5-dimercapto-3-oxapentane (HSCH.sub.2CH.sub.2OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2SH), that is to say that the groups R and R each represent a hydrogen atom, A corresponds to formula (II), n is equal to 1, m is equal to 1 and the groups Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 each represent a hydrogen atom.

[0056] Preferably, the agent according to the invention is 1,8-dimercapto-3,6-dioxaoctane (DMDO, sold by the company Arkema), that is to say that the groups R and R each represent a hydrogen atom, A corresponds to formula (II), n is equal to 2, m is equal to 2 and the groups Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 each represent a hydrogen atom.

[0057] According to another preferred embodiment, the agent according to the invention is 1,11-dimercapto-3,6,9-trioxaundecane, that is to say that the groups R and R each represent a hydrogen atom, A corresponds to formula (II), n is equal to 3, m is equal to 3 and the groups Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 each represent a hydrogen atom.

[0058] Particularly preferably, the heteroatom is sulfur.

[0059] According to yet another preferred embodiment, the agent according to the invention is 1,5-dimercapto-3-thiapentane (HSCH.sub.2CH.sub.2SCH.sub.2CH.sub.2SH or diethyl sulfid dimercaptan), that is to say that the groups R and R each represent a hydrogen atom, A corresponds to formula (II), n is equal to 1, m is equal to 1 and the groups Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 each represent a hydrogen atom.

[0060] According to yet another preferred embodiment, the agent according to the invention is 1,8-dimercapto-3,6-dithiaoctane, that is to say that the groups R and R each represent a hydrogen atom, A corresponds to formula (II), n is equal to 2, m is equal to 2 and the groups Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 each represent a hydrogen atom.

[0061] According to yet another preferred embodiment, the agent according to the invention is 1,11-dimercapto-3,6,9-trithiaundecane, that is to say that the groups R and R each represent a hydrogen atom, A corresponds to formula (II), n is equal to 3, m is equal to 3 and the groups Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 each represent a hydrogen atom.

[0062] Particularly preferably, the heteroatom is nitrogen.

[0063] In this configuration, and according to one embodiment of the invention, the agent according to the invention is 1,5-dimercapto-3-azapentane HSCH.sub.2CH.sub.2NHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2SH, that is to say that the groups R and R each represent a hydrogen atom, A corresponds to formula (II), n is equal to 1, m is equal to 1 and the groups Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 each represent a hydrogen atom.

[0064] According to another preferred embodiment, the agent according to the invention is 1,8-dimercapto-3,6-diazaoctane, that is to say that the groups R and R each represent a hydrogen atom, A corresponds to forming (II), n is equal to 2, m is equal to 2 and the groups Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 each represent a hydrogen atom.

[0065] According to yet another preferred embodiment, the agent according to the invention is 1,11-dimercapto-3,6,9-triazaundecane, that is to say that the groups R and R each represent a hydrogen atom, A corresponds to formula (II), n is equal to 3, m is equal to 3 and the groups Y.sub.1 is and Y.sub.2 each represent a hydrogen atom.

[0066] Another subject of the invention is a composition comprising at least one flotation agent according to the invention.

[0067] Preferably, said composition also comprises: [0068] at least one additional flotation agent chosen from xanthates, alkyl mercaptans, organic sulfides, thiophosphates, thiocarbonates, thioureas, thiocarbamides, dialkyl thionocarbamates, dialkyldithiocarbamates, phosphinates, dialkyl esters of xanthogen, such as, for example, dialkylformates of xanthogen, dialkyl dithiophosphates, dialkyl monothiophosphates, and the like, and also the mixtures of two or more in any proportions; [0069] azo and diazo compounds and mixtures thereof; [0070] at least one activating agent and/or at least one conditioning agent chosen from copper salts, such as copper sulfates, lead salts, zinc salts, metal sulfides, pH regulators, such as caustic soda, sodium carbonate, cyanides and mixtures thereof; [0071] at least one foaming agent chosen from alcohols, such as, for example, methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC sold by the company Arkema), pine oils, fatty oils, glycols such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, cresylic acid and mixtures thereof, optionally as a mixture with sulfonates, for example cumene sulfonates; [0072] optionally one or more depressants; [0073] water; [0074] optionally one or more solvents.

[0075] Preferably, said composition comprises at least one flotation agent according to the invention and at least one additional flotation agent well known to those skilled in the art, the ratio of the mixtures of flotation agents possibly varying within very wide proportions, in particular according to the nature of the flotation agents, the flotation conditions and the elements to be floated. The composition of the novel flotation agent contains from 0.1% by weight to 100% by weight of the molecule of formula (I) mentioned above, A corresponding to a formula chosen from formulae (II), (III) and (IV), preferably from formulae (II) and (IV), and more preferably A corresponds to formula (II), which are mentioned above, preferably from 5% to 75% of the molecule of formula (I) mentioned above, A corresponding to a formula chosen from formulae (II), (III) and (IV), preferably from formulae (II) and (IV), and more preferably A corresponds to formula (II), wish are mentioned above, the remainder to 100% by weight consisting of at least one component of the formulation mentioned above.

[0076] Particularly preferably, said composition consists of at least one flotation agent according to the invention, and optionally at least one solvent.

[0077] When the flotation agent is used with one or more others from the components listed above, the various components forming the flotation composition can be added simultaneously, consecutively, and/or sequentially.

[0078] Another subject of the invention is the use of at least one flotation agent according to the invention, for the flotation of ores.

[0079] Another subject of the invention is the use of at least one composition as described above, for the flotation of ores.

[0080] Another subject of the invention is a process for flotation recovery of metal compounds contained in ores, comprising a step of introducing at least one flotation agent according to the invention into a flotation cell containing water and a mixture of ores to be separated.

[0081] Advantageously, during said flotation recovery process, the flotation agent according to the invention is added to the flotation cell according to a weight ranging from 1 to 1000 grams, preferably from 5 to 200 grams, preferably from 10 to 100 grams, more preferably from 20 to 50 grams, per tonne of ore.

[0082] The flotation agent according to the invention can be suitable for the recovery of metal compounds, such as oxides and/or sulfides, comprising one or more metals chosen from the group containing, in a nonlimiting manner: gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper, molybdenum, nickel, cobalt, palladium, osmium, ruthenium, rhodium, iridium and platinum.