Abstract: A grinding composition is disclosed for the grinding particulate metal containing minerals containing as a grinding aid at least one hydroxy-carboxylic acid of five to six carbon atoms, containing at least three hydroxyl groups and from one to two carboxyl groups, or its soluble salts.

Abstract: The efficiency of grinding materials is improved by the addition of hydroxy-carboxylic acids of five to six carbon atoms contasining at least three hydroxyl groups and from one to two carboxyl grpous or their soluble salts as grinding aids. The grinding aids can be added as such or formed in situ by the oxidation of saccharides.

Abstract: The separation of silica or siliceous gangue from one or more desired minerals in an aqueous slurry via mechanical apparatus is improved by the addition of a small amount of an alkanol amine to the slurry. Examples of separation techniques benefiting from this technology include cyclones, tables and spiral separators.

Abstract: Dialkylated aryl monosulfonic acids or salts thereof or their mixture are useful as collectors in the flotation of minerals, particularly oxide minerals. Particularly useful are those sulfonic acids or salts in which the alkyl substituents are unsymmetrical. Collector compositions comprising these salts and sulfide collectors such as xanthates are useful in flotations conducted at natural pH of the slurry.

Abstract: Dialkylated aryl sulfonic acids or salts thereof or their mixture are useful as collectors in the flotation of minerals, particularly oxide minerals. Collector compositions comprising these salts and oleic acid are particularly useful in hard water. Collector compositions comprising these salts and sulfide collectors such as xanthates are useful in flotations conducted at natural pH of the slurry.

Abstract: The recovery of bitumen from tar sands by flotation is improved by the use of alkanol amines as flotation promoters. Monoethanolamine and diethanolamine are particularly useful for this purpose.

Abstract: The efficiency of grinding of silica-containing solids such as mineral ores is improved by the addition of alkanol amines as a grinding aid. Examples of useful amines include diethanol amine, ethanol amine, triethanol amine and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Silica and siliceous gangue are separated from desired mineral values, particularly iron and phosphate, by reverse froth flotation in the presence of amine collectors and effective amounts of alkanol amines such as diethanol amine.

Abstract: A flotation process is disclosed wherein the selectivity to the valuable mineral is improved by the depression of silica or siliceous gangue by the use of a hydroxy-containing compound such as an alkanol amine. The process is useful in the flotation of oxide minerals as well as in sulfide flotation.

Abstract: Alkylated diaryl oxide monosulfonic acids or salts thereof or their mixture are useful as collectors in the flotation of minerals, particularly oxide minerals.

Abstract: The separation of coal from pyrite is enhanced by the use of an effective amount of a polymeric acid or salt thereof as a pyrite depressant in conventional flotation processes. The polymeric acid may be a carboxylic or sulfonic acid. An example of a salt of a polymeric acid useful in the process is sodium polyacrylate.

Abstract: The separation of coal from pyrite during a froth flotation process is enhanced by the use of an effective amount of a pyrite depressant. The depressant is a hydrophilic nitrogen-sulfur-containing compound.

Abstract: A collector composition for use in froth flotation processes comprises two collectors. One of the collectors is preferably an N-(hydrocarbyl)-alpha, omega-alkanediamine, an (omega-aminoalkyl) hydrocarbon amide or mixture thereof. The second collector is a thiocarbonate, a thionocarbamate, a thiophosphate, thiocarbinilide, thiophosphinate, mercaptan, xanthogen formate, xanthic ester or mixture thereof. The collector composition floats a broad range of metal-containing minerals.

Abstract: The froth flotation of coal is conducted in the presence of an epoxide conditioner.

Abstract: The flotation of desired mineral ores is selectively depressed by the use of an effective amount of a polycarboxylic acid or salt thereof in a reverse flotation process. As an example, the flotation of iron-containing minerals, such as iron oxides or iron powder, is selectively depressed when compared to the flotation of silicate gangue thus facilitating the recovery of the desired mineral by the use of an effective amount of a polycarboxylic acid or salt thereof such as sodium polyacrylate.

Abstract: Minerals are recovered from ore by subjecting the ore, in the form of an aqueous pulp, to a froth flotation process in the presence of a collector of the formula:R.sup.1 --X--(R).sub.n --N--(R.sup.2).sub.2 (Ia)orR.sup.1 --X--(R).sub.n --N=Y (Ib)wherein --(R).sub.n -- is ##STR1## each R' is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; y+p+m=n; n is an integer from 1 to 6; y and m are independently 0 or 1 and y+m=0 or 1 and p is an integer from 1 to 6 and each moiety can occur in random sequence; R.sup.1 is a C.sub.1-22 hydrocarbyl or a C.sub.1-22 substituted hydrocarbyl and each R.sup.2 is independently hydrogen, a C.sub.1-22 hydrocarbyl or a C.sub.1-22 substituted hydrocarbyl; --X-- is --N(R.sup.3)-- or ##STR2## R.sup.3 is H or a C.sub.1-22 hydrocarbyl or a C.sub.1-22 substituted hydrocarbyl; =Y is =S, =O, a hydrocarbylene or a substituted hydrocarbylene radical.

Abstract: Minerals are recovered from ore by subjecting the ore, in the form of an aqueous pulp, to a froth flotation process in the presence of a collector of the formula:R.sup.1 --X--(R).sub.n --N--(R.sup.2).sub.2 or (Ia)R.sup.1 --X--(R).sub.n --N.dbd.Y (Ib)wherein (--R--).sub.n is ##STR1## each R' and R" is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; y+p+m=n; n is an integer from 1 to 6; y and m are independently 0 or 1 and y+m=0 or 1 and p is an integer from 1 to 6 and each moiety can occur in random sequence; R.sup.1 is a C.sub.1-22 hydrocarbyl or a C.sub.1-22 substituted hydrocarbyl; each R.sup.2 is independently hydrogen, a C.sub.1-22 hydrocarbyl or a C.sub.1-22 substituted hydrocarbyl; --X-- is --S-- or ##STR2## and .dbd.Y is .dbd.S, .dbd.O, a hydrocarbylene or a substituted hydrocarbylene radical.

Abstract: The froth flotation of coal is conducted in the presence of a conditioner of an oxygen containing compound of the formula:R.sub.1 --O--R.sub.2).sub.n (I)wherein R.sub.1 and each R.sub.2 are independently saturated hydrocarbyls and n is from 1 to about 3.

Abstract: The invention is a process for recovering coal from raw coal which comprises subjecting the raw coal in the form of an aqueous pulp, to a flotation process in the presence of a flotation collector, and a flotating amount of a flotation frother which comprises the reaction product of a polyhydroxy C.sub.1-20 alkane or polyhydroxy C.sub.3-20 cycloalkane and propylene oxide, or a mixture of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide, with the proviso that at least 50 mole percent of the mixture is propylene oxide, and the reaction product has a molecular weight of between about 150 and 1400, under conditions such that the coal is recovered.

Abstract: The invention is a process for recovering coal or mineral values from raw coal or mineral ore which comprises subjecting the raw coal or mineral ore in the form of an aqueous pulp, to a floatation process in the presence of a floatation collector, and a flotating amount of a floatation frother which comprises the reaction product of an alitphatic C.sub.6 alcohol and between about 1 and 5 moles of propylene oxide, butylene oxide or mixtures thereof, under conditions such that the coal or mineral values are recovered.