US3973734A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Froth flotation process
Assignee: WOLF RIDGE Corp A CORP OF Co
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Filing: 1974-04-22
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Granted: 1976-08-10
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Expires: 1994-04-22
Abstract
Abstract Froth Flotation method of separation of sodium compounds, principally nahcolite, dawsonite, trona, related authigenic sodium ores, and corresponding sodium compounds including sodium carbonate and sodium bicarboate, from kerogen-type organics-containing rock, by use of sodium carbonate and/or sodium bicarbonate-containing brines having a basic pH ranging above about 7.0, preferably 8.0 - 12.0, and recovering a sodium compounds-rich fraction as a non-float portion, and an organics-rich fraction as a float portion. Frothers, froth control agents and collection agents may be used separately or in combination. Single or multiple-stage flotation, with cleaning, conditioning, scavenging, reflotation, and combining of products may be used. Feed ore and products may be screened to upgrade the head or product assay. By this method, raw or retorted oil shale may be separated from sodium minerals or compounds contained therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward C. Rosar
- 👤 John R. Hobaugh
- 👤 Vuko M. Lepetic
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:55
CPC Classifications
B; B03; B03D; B03D1/00; B03D1/02; B03D1/06; B03D1/001; B03D1/004; B03D1/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A froth flotation process comprising the steps of: a. providing an ore comprising kerogen-containing rock and authigenic sodium mineralization, said sodium mineralization including: i. dawsonite, and ii. nahcolite, trona, corresponding sodium compounds, and mixtures thereof, b. crushing said ore to a size that provides liberation therefrom trona, corresponding sodium compounds and mixtures thereof of said nahcolite without liberating from said rock substantial amounts of kerogens, c. said crushing step produces a head of said kerogen-containing rock having said sodium mineralization commingled therewith, d. pulping said head in an aqueous brine solution, e. said aqueous brine solution contains sodium cations and carbonate anions selected from CO 3 = , HCO 3 - , and mixtures thereof, f. said brine having a pH above about 7.0, and being substantially devoid of Cl - anions contributed by other than said head, g. contacting said pulped head-brine mixture with a gas to form a froth, h. collecting a portion of said kerogen-containing rock and said dawsonite mineralization in a first float portion, i. collecting a portion of said nahcolite, trona, corresponding sodium compounds, and mixtures thereof in a second, non-float portion, thereby effecting a separation of said kerogen-containing rock from said nahcolite, trona, corresponding sodium compounds, and mixtures thereof mineralization.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
A froth flotation process comprising the steps of: a. providing an ore comprising kerogen-containing rock and authigenic sodium mineralization, said sodium mineralization including: i. dawsonite, and ii. nahcolite, trona, corresponding sodium compounds, and mixtures thereof, b. crushing said ore to a size that provides liberation therefrom trona, corresponding sodium compounds and mixtures thereof of said nahcolite without liberating from said rock substantial amounts of kerogens, c. said crushing step produces a head of said kerogen-containing rock having said sodium mineralization commingled therewith, d. pulping said head in an aqueous brine solution, e. said aqueous brine solution contains sodium cations and carbonate anions selected from CO 3 = , HCO 3 - , and mixtures thereof, f. said brine having a pH above about 7.0, and being substantially devoid of Cl - anions contributed by other than said head, g. contacting said pulped head-brine mixture with a gas to form a froth, h. collecting a portion of said kerogen-containing rock and said dawsonite mineralization in a first float portion, i. collecting a portion of said nahcolite, trona, corresponding sodium compounds, and mixtures thereof in a second, non-float portion, thereby effecting a separation of said kerogen-containing rock from said nahcolite, trona, corresponding sodium compounds, and mixtures thereof mineralization.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said pH is between about 8.0 to 12.0.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process as in claim 2 wherein said brine pH ranges between about 8.3 - 10.7 with respect to said sodium cations and carbonate anions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process as in claim 2 which includes the steps of separating said crushed ore into an oversize fraction and a fines fraction, providing said fines fraction as said head, said separation size being selected in relation to the liberation size of said sodium mineralization.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as in claim 4 wherein said liberation size is below about 6 mesh.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said kerogen-containing rock is an ore comprising raw oil shale, retorted oil shale, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as in claim 6 wherein said ore is reduced to a size below about 6 mesh during said crushing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process as in claim 7 wherein said size reduction includes passing said ore through an impact-type size reduction appartus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein brine ions are derived from sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process as in claim 1 which includes the step of separating said non-float portion into a large fraction and a small fraction having a mesh size below about 6 mesh, and said -6 mesh fraction is recovered as a product rich in sodium values.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as in claim 1 which includes the step of adding to said brine a froth agent selected from a froth control agent, a frother, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as in claim 11 wherein said froth agent is selected from methanol, 4methyl-2-pentanol, 1-hexanol, 1-octanol, 1-decanol, pine oil, cresylic acid, a water soluble higher aliphatic alcohol, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said process includes a step of conditioning said pulp by contacting said pulp with a conditioning agent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process as in claim 13 wherein said step of adding a conditioning agent includes adding a froth agent selected from a frother, a froth control agent, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as in claim 14 wherein the amount of said froth agent ranges from 0-10 lbs/ton of head.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process as in claim 13 which includes a plurality of conditioning steps.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as in claim 16 wherein a froth agent selected from a frother, a froth control agent, and mixtures thereof, is added during at least one of said conditioning steps.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as in claim 17 wherein different froth agents are added during different conditioning steps.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as in claim 1 which includes at least one step of cleaner flotation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as in claim 19 which includes at least one step of scavenger flotation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as in claim 1 which includes at least one step of scavenger flotation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as in claim 1 which includes a plurality of rougher flotation stages.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
A proccess as in claim 1 which includes at least one rougher flotation step in combination with at least one step selected from pulp conditioning, cleaner flotation, scavenger flotation, and combinations of said steps.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process as in claim 1 which includes the step of adding a collector to said pulped brine.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as in claim 24 wherein the amount of said collector agent ranges from 0-20 lbs/ton of head.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process as in claim 24 wherein said collector is selected from cationic organic compounds, anionic organic compounds, and mixtures thereof, and said compounds are selective to said rock or components therein.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as in claim 26 wherein said collector and said froth agent are added separately or in combination during at least one pulp conditioning step.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process as in claim 27 which includes said addition step in combination with at least one step selected from a rougher flotation step, a cleaner flotation step, a scavenger flotation step, and combinations of said steps.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein both a collector and a froth agent are added to said brine.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said gas is selected from air, CO 2 and an inert gas.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said solids content of said pulp ranges from 1-40 weight %.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
55 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said kerogen-containing rock ranges up to 95 g/T shale oil, and said sodium mineralization comprises nahcolite ranging in assay up to about 95 weight % NaHCO 3 , dawsonite in assays of up to 30 weight % NaAlCO 3 (OH) 2 , or mixtures of nahcolite and dawsonite.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said second non-float portion is rich in nahcolite.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein said second non-float portion is rich in sodium carbonate.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as in claim 1 which includes the added step of drying the non-float portion.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as in claim 35 wherein said drying includes heating the non-float portions to convert substantially all NaHCO 3 to Na 2 CO 3 .
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-10 | 1980-02-09 | 1980-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-10 | 1984-02-09 | 1984-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-10 | 1988-02-09 | 1988-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |