Patent GB-708475-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the manufacture and use of froth-flotation agents
IPC: B03D1/001
Filed: 1952-03-11
Abstract: A complex compound for use in froth flotation processes (see Group II) is prepared by heating to boiling an aqueous solution or dispersion of one part by weight of the free acids or the sodium salts of a mixture of certain petroleum sulphonic acids, mixing therewith when the free acids are used (and preferably also when the sodium salts are used) an aqueous solution of 1/3 to 8 parts by weight of sodium silicate, adding water to give an aqueous dispersion or solution containing a total quantity of water within the range of 8 to 50 parts by weight, bringing into reaction therewith a quantity of liquid oleic acid selected from the range of 2 to 50 parts by weight but not exceeding three times the total quantity of water by agitation of the mixture at an initial temperature of at least 50 DEG C. and continuing agitation until the product is homogeneous on standing.  The sulphonic acids employed are those obtained by sulphonation of a high boiling petroleum fraction and are characterized by the solubility of their sodium salts in water, mineral hydrocarbon oils, oleic acid, benzene and chloroform, by partial solubility of these salts in hydrochloric acid and by formation of water-insoluble calcium and barium salts.  The complex is preferably formed using 0.5 to 5 parts of sodium silicate, 15 to 50 parts of water and 10-50 parts of oleic acid per part by weight of the free sulphonic acids or their sodium salts.  A number of proprietary sulphonated hydrocarbon oils are mentioned as suitable for the complex formation and examples are given.ALSO:The separation of minerals by froth flotation is effected in the presence of a collector-agent complex prepared by heating to boiling an aqueous solution or dispersion of one part by weight of the free acids or sodium salts of a mixture of certain petroleum sulphonic acids, mixing therewith when the free acids are used (and preferably also when the sodium salts are used) an aqueous solution of 1/3 to 8 parts by weight of sodium silicate, adding water to give an aqueous solution or dispersion containing a total quantity of water within the range of 8-50 parts by weight, bringing into reaction therewith a quantity of liquid oleic acid selected from the range of 2 to 50 parts by weight but not exceeding three times the total quantity of water by agitation of the mixture at an initial temperature of at least 50 DEG C. and continuing agitation until the product is homogeneous on standing.  The sulphonic acids used are those obtained by sulphonation of a high boiling petroleum fraction and are characterized by the solubility of their sodium salts in water, mineral hydrocarbon oils, oleic acid, benzene and chloroform, by partial solubility of these salts in hydrochloric acid and by formation of water insoluble calcium and barium salts.  Preferably 0.5-5.0 parts sodium silicate 15-50 parts water and 10-50 parts oleic acid are used per part of the sulphonic acids or their sodium salts. The collector agent may be used in conjunction with other additives such as cresylic acid, pine oil, sodium silicate, sodium phosphate, phosphoric acid, potassium dichromate and quebracho.  Examples are given describing a number of complexes obtained from various commercial sulphonated hydrocarbon oils and their use in the froth flotation of Cerussite, Descloizite, Vanadinite, Smithsonite, Cassiterite Malachite, Sphalerite, Gypssum, various fluorspars, apatite, magnetite and coal.