Quaternary ammonium compounds for froth flotation of silicates from an iron ore

US7311206B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• AKZO NOBEL N.V. · NL

Inventors

• Magnus Svensson · Gothenburg, SE
• Jan Olof Gustafsson · Kungälv, SE
• Anders Klingberg

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 16, 2000
• Grant date: Dec 25, 2007
• Expiry date: Apr 16, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B03D2203/04
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention relates to a froth flotation process in which silicates are separated from an iron ore in the presence of a collector containing a quaternary ammonium compound having the formula R1R1N+R3R4 1/z Xz− (I), in which the groups R1 independently are hydrocarbon groups, preferably aliphatic groups containing 6-14 carbon atoms and/or the group R2—(OR7)m—OR8—, where the groups R2 independently are acyl groups containing 6-14 carbon atoms, the groups R7 independently are alkylene groups containing 2-4 carbon atoms, the groups R8 independently are alkylene groups containing 2-3 carbon atoms and m is a number from 0-5, R3 and R4 independently are alkyl groups containing 1-4 carbon atoms or groups (R5O)pH, where the groups R5 independently are alkylene groups having 2-4 carbon atoms and p is a number from 1-4, X is an anionic group, and z is the charge of the anion X. This collector has a high selectivity to concentrate silicates in the froth product, while a high yield of iron minerals is maintained in the bottom concentrate or concentrates.