Sulfonated modifiers for froth flotation

Abstract

Improved sparge compositions for reverse froth flotation separation and uses thereof, and methods of reverse froth flotation are described. The sparge compositions comprise sulfonated polymeric modifiers which can act as dispersants and depressants, and the compositions are suitably used in the reverse froth flotation of particulate material containing ultrafine particles. For example, the compositions and methods can be used in the separation of iron oxide beneficiary from iron ores comprising silica, silicates, and the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sparge composition comprising:
 (i) a medium;   (ii) an ore selected from potash ore, coal, metal oxide ore, limestone, clay, sand, gravel, diatomite, kaolin, bentonite, silica, barite, gypsum, talc, zircon, fluorite, and any combination thereof, the ore comprising a gangue and a beneficiary;   (iii) a collector; and   (iv) a modifier comprising one or more sulfonated polymers, wherein at least one of the one or more sulfonated polymers
 (a) has a weight average molecular weight of from about 300 g/mole to about 100,000 g/mole, 
 (b) comprises a residue of sulfonated vinyl alcohol, sulfonated acrylamide, sulfomethylated acrylamide, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate, styrene sulfonate, or any combination thereof, and 
 (c) further comprises a residue of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, vinyl alcohol, maleic acid, a maleic acid ester, or any combination thereof. 
   
     
     
         2 . The sparge composition of  claim 1 , wherein the ore is a metal oxide ore. 
     
     
         3 . The sparge composition of  claim 1 , wherein the beneficiary comprises an iron oxide. 
     
     
         4 . The sparge composition of  claim 1 , wherein the collector is an amine. 
     
     
         5 . The sparge composition of  claim 1 , wherein the gangue comprises silicate, silica, carbonate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The sparge composition of  claim 1 , wherein the modifier further comprises a sulfonated lignin, a sulfonated starch, a sulfonated cellulose, a sulfonated guar gum, a sulfonated xanthan gum, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The sparge composition of  claim 1 , wherein the beneficiary comprises magnetite. 
     
     
         8 . The sparge composition of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sulfonated polymers comprises a copolymer of acrylic acid and a sulfomethylated acrylamide. 
     
     
         9 . The sparge composition of  claim 1 , wherein the collector is a C12-C24 fatty amine, a C12-C24 fatty diamine, a C6-C13 ether amine, a C6-C13 ether diamine, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The sparge composition of  claim 1 , wherein the collector comprises C13 ether diamine. 
     
     
         11 . A method of froth flotation comprising:
 forming a sparge composition, the sparge composition comprising
 (i) a medium, 
 (ii) an ore selected from potash ore, coal, metal oxide ore, limestone, clay, sand, gravel, diatomite, kaolin, bentonite, silica, barite, gypsum, talc, zircon, fluorite, and any combination thereof, the ore comprising a gangue and a beneficiary, 
 (iii) a collector, and 
 (iv) a modifier comprising one or more sulfonated polymers, wherein at least one of the one or more sulfonated polymers
 (a) has a weight average molecular weight of from about 300 g/mole to about 100,000 g/mole, 
 (b) comprises a residue of sulfonated vinyl alcohol, sulfonated acrylamide, sulfomethylated acrylamide, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate, styrene sulfonate, or any combination thereof, and 
 (c) further comprises a residue of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, vinyl alcohol, maleic acid, a maleic acid ester, or any combination thereof; and 
 sparging the sparge composition to yield a sparged composition, the sparged composition comprising a froth and a sparged slurry. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the beneficiary comprises a metal oxide. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the beneficiary comprises an iron oxide. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the collector is an amine. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the gangue comprises silicate, silica, carbonate, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the modifier further comprises a sulfonated lignin, a sulfonated starch, a sulfonated cellulose, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the beneficiary comprises magnetite. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more sulfonated polymers comprises a copolymer of acrylic acid and sulfomethylated acrylamide. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the amine collector is a C12-C24 fatty amine, a C12-C24 fatty diamine, a C6-C13 ether amine, a C6-C13 ether diamine, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the modifier is employed in a grinding process, a desliming process, a conditioning process, or any combination thereof.