Patent ID: 8505736
Filing Date: 2013-08-13
Classification: B03D

Abstract:
1. In a method for phosphate ore beneficiation including subjecting said phosphate ore containing at least one of clay and sand to flotation to effect separation of the phosphate mineral from at least one of clay and sand wherein the improvement comprises replacing petroleum based hydrocarbons such that no petroleum based hydrocarbons are present during flotation with a biodegradable, hydrophobic ester formed from an alcohol and a carboxylic acid, optionally branched, wherein the alcohol is selected from C-8 through C-20 alcohols or from C-2 through C-12 diols and the carboxylic acids is selected from C-12 through C-22 carboxylic acids or C-2 through C-36 unsubstituted dicarboxylic acids, optionally branched.