Scheelite flotation

Claim 2

A process for the separation of scheelite from calcite present in an ore or a concentrate formed from an ore, the process comprising the steps of: a. decomposing any flotation agent residues contained in said concentrate; b. treating said ore or concentrate to condition the particle surfaces with a mono-substituted butane diamine of the formula H 2 N.C 4 H 8 .N(H)R, wherein R is a long-chain saturated or partially-unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having at least 14 carbon atoms; c. subjecting the treated ore or concentrate to flotation in an aqueous system; and d. recovering the scheelite in the flotation froth.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1, wherein R contains from 14 to 18 carbon atoms, inclusive.

Claim 4

The process of claim 2, wherein said mono-substituted butane diamine is added in a concentration of from about 0.1 to about 2.0 pounds per ton of ore or concentrate.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1, wherein R is a naturally occurring mixture of aliphatic C 16 -C 18 radicals.

Claim 6

The process of claim 1, wherein said mono-substituted butane diamine is added in a concentration of from about 0.1 to about 2.0 pounds per ton of ore or concentrate.

Claim 7

The process of claim 1, wherein any flotation agent residues contained in said concentrate are decomposed by heating.

Claim 8

The process of claim 1, wherein said concentrate is formed by fatty acid flotation from an ore and any fatty acid residues contained in said concentrate are decomposed by heating.

Claim 9

A process for the separation of scheelite from calcite present in an ore or a concentrate formed from an ore, the process comprising the steps of: a. decomposing any flotation agent residues contained in said concentrate; b. feeding said ore or concentrate to a mixing vessel and admixing therein said ore or concentrate with water to form a slurry containing from 10 to 30% solids; c. feeding said slurry to a bank of rougher flotation cells containing an alcoholic frother and a flotation agent comprising a mono-substituted butane diamine of the formula H 2 N.C 4 H 8 .N(H)R, wherein R is a long-chain saturated or partially-unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having at least 14 carbon atoms, to provide a rougher concentrate; d. passing said rougher concentrate through a cleaning vessel containing an aqueous cleaning medium to provide cleaner tailings and a cleaner concentrate; e. recycling said cleaner tailings through said rougher flotation cells to said cleaning vessel; f. passing said cleaner concentrate from said cleaning vessel to a recleaning vessel containing an aqueous cleaning medium to provide recleaner tailings and a final scheelite concentrate in the flotation froth; and g. recycling said recleaner tailings through said cleaning vessel to said recleaning vessel and filtering and drying said final scheelite concentrate.

Claim 10

A process for the separation of scheelite from calcite present in an ore or a concentrate formed from an ore, the process comprising the steps of: a. decomposing any flotation agent residues contained in said concentrate; b. feeding said ore or concentrate to a mixing vessel and admixing therein said ore or concentrate with water to form a slurry containing from 10 to 30% solids; c. feeding said slurry to a bank of rougher flotation cells containing an alcoholic frother and a flotation agent comprising a mono-substituted butane diamine of the formula H 2 N.C 4 H 8 .N(H)R, wherein R is a long-chain saturated or partially-unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having at least 14 carbon atoms, to provide a rougher concentrate; d. passing said rougher concentrate through a cleaning vessel containing an aqueous cleaning medium to provide cleaner tailings and a cleaner concentrate; e. recycling said cleaner tailings through said rougher flotation cells to said cleaning vessel; f. passing said cleaner concentrate from said cleaning vessel to a recleaning vessel containing an aqueous cleaning medium to provide recleaner tailings and a final scheelite concentrate in the flotation froth; and g. recycling said recleaner tailings through said cleaning vessel to said recleaning vessel and filtering and drying said final scheelite concentrate.

Claim 11

The process of claim 8, wherein said aqueous medium is water.

Claim 12

The process of claim 8, wherein said aqueous medium is an alkaline solution.

Claim 13

The process of claim 10, wherein said alkaline solution is sodium bicarbonate.

Claim 14

The process of claim 8, wherein R contains from 14 to 18 carbon atoms, inclusive.

Claim 15

The process of claim 8, wherein R is a naturally occurring mixture of aliphatic C 16 -C 18 radicals.

Claim 16

The process of claim 8, wherein said mono-substituted butane diamine is added in a concentration of from about 0.1 to about 2 pounds per ton of ore or concentrate.