Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a process operating by means of the electrochemical potential, in which process complex ores and/or concentrates are treated in order to arrange the valuable components in the materials in a form appropriate for further processing and in which method electrodes made of material essentially similar to the materials to be treated in the process. According to the invention an impedance analysis in connection with the measurement of the electrochemical potential is carried out for the material to be treated in process in order to analyze the state of the solid surface and/or the state between the solid material and the intermediary material. The measured values are utilized in the adjustment of the process parameters. In order to carry out the impedance analysis voltage pulses are conducted into the material in at least one frequency and in at least one value of the electrochemical potential of the material.

Abstract: A process for recovering gold from a refractory sulfidic ore which has been suspended in an aqueous slurry and oxidized using nitric acid so that substantially all of the gold in the ore is made available for recovery and at least a portion of the sulfidic components present during the oxidation are oxidized to elemental sulfur, comprises bubbling air as a discontinuous phase upwardly through the oxidized slurry, thereby creating a froth containing elemental gold and sulfur. The froth is separated from the slurry to provide a concentrate, and the gold is recovered from the concentrate.

Abstract: Recovery of precious metals such as gold and silver from aqueous cyanide solutions thereof, by contact with a reagent containing a guanidine functionality. The guanidine reagent extracts the precious metal from the aqueous solution which is subsequently stripped from the guanidine reagent and recovered by conventional methods. Certain novel guanidine compounds suitable for extracting gold and silver are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for beneficiating an ore containing sulfide materials with selective rejection of pyrite, pyrrhotite and other metals and gangue. In particular, the process is useful for beneficiating ores and recovering copper from said ores. In one embodiment the process comprises the steps of(A) grinding the ore to an appropriate size range;(B) preparing a slurry comprising(B-1) said ground ore;(B-2) at least one collector which is a water-dispersible or soluble dihydrocarbyldithiodiphosphoric acid or salt having the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are different hydrocarbyl groups containing up to about 12 carbon atoms, n is an integer equal to the valence of X and X.sup.n+ is a dissociating cation; and(B-3) water;(C) conditioning the slurry with SO.sub.2 under aeration at a pH of about 5.5 to about 7.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of mineral values from base metal ores is disclosed. Specifically, a froth flotation process is disclosed which comprises contacting an aqueous ore slurry with an effective amount of hemicellulose, a mineral collector and a frothing agent.

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: This invention relates to a method of recovering non-ferrous metal sulfides from a metal ore which comprises subjecting the metal ore, in the form of an aqueous pulp, to a froth flotation process in the presence of a flotating amount of a flotation collector wherein the collector comprises a compound which corresponds to one of the formulas ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group wherein the aryl and aralkyl can be substituted with a halo or alkyl moiety;R.sup.2 is alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group wherein the aryl or aralkyl can be substituted with a halo or alkyl moiety;R.sup.3 is aryl or aralkyl unsubstituted or substituted with a halo or alkyl moiety;R.sup.4 is alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group wherein the aryl or aralkyl can be substituted with a halo or alkyl moiety; with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 must be aryl or aralkyl unsubstituted or substituted;under conditions such that the metal sulfide values are recovered in the froth.

Abstract: A process for thickening gold ore slurries or slimes for gold purification which comprises adding to such gold ore slimes an effective amount of flocculant comprising a terpolymer containing 5-35 mole % 2-AMPS, 5-45 mole % sodium acrylate and 50-90 mole % acrylamide, said terpolymer having an RSV of at least 20.

Abstract: Tri-alkali metal di(carboxyalkyl) dithiocarbamates and triammonium-di(carboxyalkyl) dithiocarbamates which can be characterized by the formula ##STR1## wherein R and R' can be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of alkylene radicals, preferably alkylene radicals each preferably having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and wherein M is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal atoms and ammonium; their use as ore flotation depressants; and a process for making these novel compositions are disclosed.

Abstract: An aqueous solution containing a water soluble polyvalent metal sulphate, an alkali metal silicate and an alkali metal metabisulphite is described which is added to a slurry of a copper mineral bearing ore to be subjected to a froth flotation step for obtaining a copper concentrate. The aqueous solution is added to enhance the selectivity of conventional flotation collectors and depressants when the valuable minerals are finally disseminated in the host ore, which is then required to be ground to very small particle sizes to achieve the desired liberation. Other valuable minerals such as those bearing zinc and lead, may be recovered from the tailing.

Abstract: Gold values are obtained from gold cyanidation tailings or gold bearing ores by treating the same with a flotation collector consisting of 5 to 20% xanthate collector and 80 to 95% fatty acid collector of a pulp pH range from 5 to 8.

Abstract: A method of beneficiation of complex sulfide ores comprises crushing and grinding complex sulfide ore containing sulfides of copper, zinc, iron and other minerals, subjecting the ground ores to differential flotation to obtain a bulk copper-zinc concentrate which is separate from pyrite and gangue, and passing the bulk copper-zinc concentrate through a high-gradient magnetic separator having an open-bore magnetic field filled with a matrix element, so as to recover separately a magnetic copper concentrate and a non-magnetic zinc concentrate. By combining the differential flotation with high-gradient magnetic separation, the present invention enables individual separation of copper and zinc concentrates without using many reagents in high volumes and by a simple process control.

Abstract: The invention comprises the treatment of metal oxides and mixed metal oxides and metal sulfides in a vertical tube reactor system having a downcomer section and a riser section in order to oxidize and dissolve the metal values in aqueous slurry primarily in the downcomer section and introducing a reducing agent comprising a formate species and reducing the dissolved metal values in the riser section. The reduced metal values are then separated with the gangue values from the product solution downstream from the vertical tube reactor system. The reduced metal values may then be separated from the gangue material by conventional solid separation techniques, such as flotation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the separation of gold from particulate material containing gold, which comprises introducing a hydrophobic liquid, a non-gold particulate hydrophobic bulking material and particulate, gold containing material into an aqueous liquid so that the hydrophobic liquid becomes associated with the gold and, in conjunction with the non-gold particulate hydrophobic material, forms gold bearing agglomerates bonded by the hydrophobic liquid, and separating the gold bearing agglomerates from the aqueous liquid.

Abstract: A flotation process for the continuous recovery of silver or silver compounds from solutions or dispersions is described, wherein finely divided, inert gas bubbles are injected into the dispersions of silver and silver compounds in the presence of protein and the pH of the medium is maintained at the isoelectric point of the protein. Addition of a surface active agent accelerates the process. The desilverized effluent has a silver content of less than 1 mg of Ag/l. The quantity of flotate (12) is less than 2% of the quantity of effluent (5) put into the process.

Abstract: A process for separating precious metals from a roaster calcine leach residue from a process wherein copper or zinc sulfides are roasted to produce a copper or zinc calcine; the calcine is leached with an aqueous sulfuric acid leaching solution to produce a copper or zinc-containing leaching solution and a roaster calcine leach residue and the copper or zinc-containing leaching solution is separated from the roaster calcine leach residue wherein the process comprises:(a) intimately contacting the roaster calcine leach residue with an aqueous sulfuric acid leach solution containing from about 5 to about 200 grams per liter of sulfuric acid to produce a slurry of leach solution and roaster calcine leach residue and to dissolve precious metal from roaster calcine leach residue;(b) adding copper or zinc sulfide solids to the mixture of leach solution and said roaster calcine each residue;(c) agitating the copper or zinc sulfide solids in intimate contact with the mixture of leach solution and roaster calcine leac

Abstract: Dimercaptodihydroxy alkanes are used as a curing agent for epoxide resins and as ore flotation agents.

Abstract: Process of enrichment of minerals by flotation by means of a collector comprising a thio-compound, the thio-compound being a straight or branched dialkyl or dialkenyl polysulphide.

Abstract: A process for separately recovering zinc and lead values from zinc and lead containing sulphidic ore which also contains iron comprises subjecting ground ore to a first flotation step to float an initial lead concentrate containing zinc and produce zinc and iron containing tailings. The zinc and iron containing tailings are subjected to a second flotation step to float an initial zinc concentrate containing iron and also produce tailings. The initial zinc concentrate is subjected to a third flotation step to float a further zinc concentrate containing iron and also produce zinc and iron containing tailings. The zinc and iron containing tailings from the third flotation step and at least a lead and zinc containing portion of the initial lead concentrate are leached in a first leach step under oxidizing conditions at a temperature in the range of from about 130.degree. to about 170.degree. C.

Abstract: Process for treating oxidized ores with a manganiferous matrix to recover the small quantities of copper, nickel and cobalt, which consists of attacking the aforementioned ore by means of an aqueous solution of H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 with the simultaneous injection of sulfur dioxide, at a temperature which does not exceed boiling point of the medium, at a pH less than 1.5; introducing an alkaline sulfide to precipitate the copper, nickel and cobalt sulfides in the suspension resulting from the attack; and separating by sulfides and the residue by flotation. The process is applicable to attacks on manganiferous nodules obtained from ocean beds as well as to attacks on land manganiferous matrix oxidized ores.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for treating dore slag resulting from smelting of a dore furnace charge, by grinding such slag and then subjecting the obtained pulp to froth flotation in the presence of a suitable frother and collector to produce a precious metals concentrate which is then filtered and returned to the dore furnace with the next charge. The tails from the froth flotation may then be finely ground and subjected to several additional flotation stages to improve recovery of the precious metals, and the entire operation is preferably carried out as a closed loop process so that only the tailings from the rougher flotation are removed and shipped to the smelter.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the recovery of lead, silver and gold from the iron-bearing residue of an electrolytic zinc process by froth-flotating a slurry of the iron-bearing residue in the presence of a sulfidic collector agent in order to froth-flotate the sulfides and to separate them from the iron-bearing residue. The iron-bearing residue is sulfidized selectively in order to convert the lead, silver and possibly gold substantially quantitatively to sulfides before the iron-bearing residue is froth-flotated.

Abstract: The impure jarosite residue of an electrolytic zinc process is leached in a sulfuric-acid-bearing solution in order to produce a leach residue which contains lead, silver and gold and a ferrisulfate-bearing solution and to separate them from each other, whereafter the leach residue is sulfidized and froth-flotated in order to recover a combined concentrate which contains lead, silver and gold, and the ferrisulfate-bearing solution is fed to a ferritic treatment stage, in which ferrisulfate and ferrites react in the presence of ions of alkali and ammonium at 80.degree.-105.degree. C. and form pure jarosite and zinc sulfate.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of copper and zinc values from copper and zinc containing sulphidic ore includes subjecting ground ore to a flotation operation. An initial copper concentrate is floated in a first flotation step, and the initial copper concentrate is fed to a second flotation step to float a relatively zinc free copper concentrate. Remaining ore from the first flotation step is fed to a third flotation step to float an initial zinc concentrate, and remaining ore from the third flotation step is fed to a fourth flotation step to float a copper and zinc containing material. An intermediate concentrate containing from about 5 to about 25% copper and from about 2 to about 25% zinc, with a total of at least about 12% copper and zinc, is produced by selecting at least the remaining ore from the second flotation step, and a zinc concentrate containing at least about 20% zinc is produced by at least selecting a portion of the initial zinc concentrate.

Abstract: Process for recovery of copper, molybdenum, gold and elemental sulfur in tailings from hydrometallurgical processing of copper sulfide ores, particularly chalcopyrite. The tailings are usually discarded, and thus the recovery of valuable elements therefrom makes the environmentally desirable hydrometallurgical processes of FIG. 1 economically feasible.The tailings are concentrated to a small bulk volume by froth flotation to reject barren gangue and the process (FIG.

Abstract: Cations, such as copper, are recovered from very dilute aqueous solutions by means of a bubble fractionation process comprising countercurrent contacting of the feed solution with a stream of gas bubbles and a surfactant in an elongated vertical column.

Abstract: The process of the invention is for the separate recovery of elemental sulfur and residual sulfides and metal salt solution from reaction slurries obtained from leaching of metal sulfides in ores and concentrates.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of copper, molybdenum, gold and elemental sulfur in tailings from hydrometallurgical processing of copper sulfide ores, the process comprising concentrating the tailings containing elemental sulfur and copper, gold and molybdenum to a small bulk volume by froth flotation to reject barren gangue including jarosite, if present, and other impurities, separating the liquids and solids in the float concentrate, leaching the resulting residue with a solvent for sulfur followed by liquid-solids separation and recovering elemental sulfur from the liquid, leaching the residue from the sulfur solvent leach with ferric chloride to selectively dissolve copper and iron therein followed by liquid-solids separation and recovering copper from the liquid or sending it back to the hydrometallurgical circuit, leaching the residue from the ferric chloride leach with cyanide to selectively solubilize gold followed by liquid-solids separation and recovering of solubilized gold from the liquid, recovering

Abstract: The disclosure is of the use of a class of chelating agents having active nitrogen and oxygen chelating atoms and which form insoluble chelates with copper, as reagents for the recovery of for example copper values from copper-bearing materials by froth flotation and like techniques.

Abstract: Undigested matte particles in autoclave leach residues containing iron oxide are separated from iron oxide by subjecting an aqueous slurry thereof to flotation without the use of a flotation reagent by bubbling air therethrough to form a froth containing said undigested matte particles which is recycled for further leaching and provide an iron oxide-containing tails which is removed and discarded.

Abstract: The invention relates to the concentration by flotation of fine mesh size and/or oxidized ores.The invention consists in using a chelating agent selected from the .beta.-diketones as flotation reagents in a conventional flotation process. Fine mesh size ores and/or oxidized ores, notably oxidized copper, lead or zinc ores with carbonated and/or silicated gangue can also be used as starting materials.Application:making use as starting materials of ores which are difficult to cause to float by conventional methods.

Abstract: Flotation of a variety of non-sulphide and mixed sulphide plus non-sulphide copper ores is disclosed. Stabilization of non-sulphide copper mineral surfaces by sulphidization is initially required and a selective complexing agent able to complex with the copper sulphide surface is then added as conditioner. Diphenylguanidine proved to be a highly selective and fast acting surface conditioner which converted both sulphide and sulphidized copper minerals to an oleophilic condition. Addition of relatively small amounts of emulsified, non-polar oil completed the selective conversion of copper minerals to strongly hydrophobic and floatable condition. Favorable results have been obtained on a series of ores ranging from low grade malachite-chal-copyrite ores to high grade cuprite-malachite-chalcocite and brochantite ores.

Abstract: A method for selectively capturing metal ions by treating a solution conting ions of heavy metals, such as cupric ions, zinc ions, etc., at an adjusted pH value with a metal capturing agent comprising a condensation product of a higher fatty acid or derivative thereof with an excess of a polyamine, for example, a condensation product of decanoic acid and a polyamine. Heavy metal ions contained in effluents from mines and factories are selectively captured and separated according to this method.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for hydrometallurgical treatment of concentrates of sulphides of copper, nickel, cobalt, lead and iron and copper-containing mattes. A first embodiment of the process includes subjecting a finely ground slurry of a sulphide concentrate to an oxidation leach at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of an oxygen-bearing gas to preferentially leach cobalt and nickel and to convert galena to lead sulphate. The reaction mixture is heated to a further elevated temperature, in the absence of oxygen, to convert a portion of chalcopyrite to insoluble simple copper sulphides and ferrous sulphate solution and to decompose complex insoluble ferric compounds. The resulting mixture is subjected to differential flotation whereby a lead concentrate and a copper concentrate are obtained.

Abstract: Copper, zinc and nickel are recovered from sulfide concentrates prepared from ores of one or more such metals by subjecting such concentrate to a leaching operation which comprises slurrying the concentrate in an aqueous solution containing ammonium sulfate and free ammonia and vigorously agitating the slurry at 50 to 80.degree. C. and below 10 psig. in the presence of free oxygen while vigorously recirculating said oxygen from above the surface of the slurry to a substantial depth below such surface. The resulting pregnant leach solution contains copper, zinc, and/or nickel in dissolved form complexed with ammonia and such solution is treated to recover the dissolved metal. The undissolved sulfidic residue from the leaching operation is subjected to a secondary flotation operation to produce a sulfide concentrate containing the metal values not dissolved in the leaching operation, and such concentrate is treated to recover such values, as by smelting or by releaching.

Abstract: Copper is recovered from an aqueous pulp of an ore containing both sulfide minerals and oxidized minerals by continuously monitoring the EMF of the pulp and adding a water-soluble sulfide to the pulp in an amount from 0.05 to 7 pounds of contained sulfur per ton of ore whenever and for so long as the pump EMF is above about -30 millivolts with reference to a standard silver-silver chloride electrode, and discontinuing such addition whenever such EMF in less than about -30 millivolts. Thereafter the pulp is subjected to a froth flotation operation in the presence of a collector for copper sulfide minerals to produce a concentrate containing most of the sulfide minerals and a substantial part of the oxidized minerals of the ore.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of copper minerals from oxidized ores by flotation employing sulphidization of the oxidized minerals followed by flotation employing a tetraalkylammonium halide as collector. Preferably, a prior flotation step with a xanthate collector is employed, especially when the ore contains substantial amounts of unoxidized sulphide minerals. Using the preferred embodiment of the process it is possible to recover 10% more copper from an oxidized copper ore than is possible with sulphidization and xanthate flotation steps alone.