Flotation of sphalerite from mixed base metal sulfide ores either without or with largely reduced amount of copper sulfate addition using 2-(alkylamino)ethanethiols as collectors
US10005088B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 23, 2016 |
| Grant date | Jun 26, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 23, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB03D2203/02
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The main objective of the invention was to develop a new flotation collector that could eliminate or reduce the amount of copper sulfate used in the flotation of sphalerite. Different series of collectors such as cupferrons, arylhydroxamic acids and amino mercaptans or amino thiols were synthesized and tested. Amino mercaptans/aminothiols were found to be very effective in floating sphalerite from a lead-zinc ore using only 10-15% of copper sulfate used with conventional xanthate collector. The present invention does not require any alteration in the current mill practices. This warrants only changing the flotation collector in zinc flotation stage from, for example, potassium amyl xanthate (PAX) to the new collector.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.