Abstract: A method is provided for modifying the rheology of a slurry of a mineral-containing solid material and water by adding a low molecular weight sulfonate-containing polymer to the slurry. The polymer preferably comprises acrylamide, acrylic acid and acrylamidomethyl sulfonate. The inventive method has applications in the nickel ore, cobalt ore, precious metals ore, copper ore, taconite, mineral sands, coal and bauxite industries.

Abstract: An improved method for extracting a precious metal from mineral fines by heap leaching with dilute sulfuric acid which comprises agglomerating the mineral fines prior to formation into a heap with an agglomerating agent composition comprising sequential addition of a first polymer selected from the group consisting of anionic and nonionic water-soluble polymers and then a second cationic water-soluble polymer to the fines. Preferred first polymers are poly(acrylamide) and 70/30 mole percent poly(acrylamide/sodium acrylate), and preferred second polymers are poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride), 90/10 mole percent poly(acrylamide/diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and 99/1 mole percent poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride/vinyltrimethoxysilane).

Abstract: A method of reducing the entrainment of aqueous mineral acid solutions in organic extractants used in the solvent extraction of metals from the aqueous fluid is disclosed. The method comprises adding an effective, entrainment prevention amount of a water soluble cationic polymer having a molecular weight of from about 10,000 to about 500,000 to a metal rich aqueous mineral acid solution, immediately prior to, or during mixing with a metal poor organic extractant, and then recovering a metal poor aqueous mineral acid phase, and a metal rich organic extractant phase having a reduced level of entrainment of the aqueous mineral acid solution. In a preferred embodiment the metal is copper, and the polymer is poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride.

Abstract: The present invention related to the use of certain cross-linked diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride polymers in water-in-oil emulsion form for use as coagulants in suspensions of inorganic solids. The diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride polymers are preferably polymers of diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride, acrylamide, and triallylamine. The water-in-oil emulsions are formulated to invert after addition to the inorganic solids suspension, as the suspension travels to a mechanical thickening device for further processing. The inorganic solids from refuse or concentrate mineral processing applications may be coal, copper ore, sand, gravel, taconite, beryllium, trona, kaolin or precious metals.

Abstract: A method for dewatering coal tailings, clean coal products and mineral slurries, as well as for the clarification of water contained in coal refuse slurries, employing a copolymer of diallyldimethlylammonium halide and a vinyl alkoxysilane, which is preferably a copolymer of diallyldimethylammonium chloride and vinyltrimethoxysilane as a coagulant is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is a method for dewatering waste solids generated in mineral processing operations utilizing a hydrophobically-modified copolymer coagulant of diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride and quaternized dimethylaminoethyl acrylate or quaternized dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate.

Abstract: A method for dewatering mineral slurries employing a copolymer of diallyldimethlylammonium halide and a vinyl alkoxysilane, which is preferably a copolymer of diallyldimethylammonium chloride and vinyltrimethoxysilane as a coagulant is disclosed. The method for dewatering mineral slurries containing water comprising the steps of: feeding said mineral slurry into a thickener, treating said mineral slurry with an effective amount of a coagulant which comprises a copolymer of halide and a vinyl alkoxysilane; allowing the water to separate from the mineral slurry, withdrawing the water from said thickener and discharging said mineral products from said thickener. Mineral slurries which can be effectively treated are copper and taconite. The above-mentioned method may also include treatment with a flocculant in conjunction with the coagulant.

Abstract: A chemically assisted process for dewatering mining waste solids on mechanical separation devices with at least one flocculant and at least one coagulant. It comprises using as the coagulant a diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride copolymer which contains from 3-25 mole % of acrylamide and which has been cross linked with from 0.01 to 0.5 mole % of triallyl amine.

Abstract: A method for concentrating coal tailings and for dewatering coal products employing a copolymer of diallyldimethlylammonium halide and a vinyl alkoxysilane, preferably a copolymer of diallyldimethylammonium chloride and vinyltrimethoxysilane as a coagulant. The method for concentrating coal tailings comprises steps of: feeding the coal tailings to a thickener; treating the coal tailings with the coagulant, discharging substantially concentrated tailing; and withdrawing substantially clarified liquid from the thickener. A method for dewatering coal products containing water comprising the steps of: feeding the clean coal containing water to a twin belt filter press; treating said coal with an effective amount of a copolymer coagulant of diallyldimethylammonium halide and vinyl alkoxysilane, preferably diallyldimethylammonium chloride and vinyl trimethoxysilane is also disclosed.

Abstract: A wet process production of phosphoric acid in which phosphate rock is digested, whereby phosphoric acid is released and calcium sulfate crystals are formed, employs a polymeric crystal modifier in the digestion stage of the process to improve the separation of the raw phosphoric acid product from the calcium sulfate crystals and to increase the concentration of phosphoric acid in the raw phosphoric acid product.

Abstract: C.sub.6 -C.sub.14 dicarboxylic acids and blends thereof are excellent for use in high pressure water spray systems for removing metal working compounds swarf and chips from ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Additionally, these compositions provide excellent corrosion inhibition for the cleaned metals.

Abstract: A drawing and stamping extreme pressure lubricant for steel and aluminum which comprises a water-in-oil micro-emulsion which consists essentially of about 2 to 30 percent of a 500 to 3,000 s.u.s. hydrocarbon oil and suitable emulsifiers and stabilizers used as the base for the emulsion including tall oil fatty acids, triethanolamine soaps, petroleum sulfonates, and non-ionic emulsifiers. By substituting an ethoxylated vegetable oil, such as caster oil, etc., for the hydrocarbon oil in the above formulation, a second extreme pressure lubricant is arrived at. Thus, this lubricant consists of 2 to 30 percent of an oxidized vegetable oil polymer where the oxidized portion is 4 to 30 moles selected from a group consisting of ethylene oxide (EO), propylene oxide (PO), and ethylene/propylene oxide (EO/PO) units of vegetable oil.