Alkyl Ether Amine Collectors for Selective Silicate Removal in Iron Ore Flotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for inverse iron ore flotation face challenges in selectively removing silicate from iron ores with high silicate content, leading to increased loss of iron ore and difficulty in achieving low silicate levels, especially for direct reduction processes.
Innovation Solution
The use of specific alkyl ether amines and alkyl ether diamines, such as those with formulae RO—X—NH2, RO—X—NH3+Y−, RO—X—NH—Z—NH2, and RO—X—NH—Z—NH3+Y−, where X and Z are aliphatic alkylene groups, and R includes a Guerbet C10H21 group, which are designed to improve the selective removal of silicate in inverse flotation processes, maintaining a liquid form for convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional hydrophobic amines are used for inverse flotation, then silicate removal is achieved, but iron ore loss increases and selective removal becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical structure of conventional hydrophobic amines by introducing ether groups at specific positions (alpha, beta, or gamma carbons) to create alkyl ether amines and diamines. This structural parameter change enhances the collector's selectivity for silicate surfaces while reducing non-selective adsorption on iron ore minerals, thereby improving silicate removal precision while minimizing iron ore loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite functional groups combining hydrocarbon chains (for hydrophobicity) with ether oxygens (for enhanced silicate selectivity). This composite structure allows the collector to simultaneously achieve strong silicate attachment and reduced iron ore adsorption, resolving the contradiction between removal efficiency and material loss.
2Manufacturing precision
If linear alkoxy moieties are used in collectors, then silicate removal effectiveness improves, but the collector crystallizes over time requiring additional solvent or heating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces branching at specific positions (alpha, beta, or gamma carbons) in the alkyl chain to create asymmetric molecular structures. This asymmetry disrupts the regular packing and crystallization tendency of linear chains, maintaining the collector in liquid form at ambient temperatures while preserving the alkoxy group's effectiveness in silicate removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state parameter of the collector from solid (crystalline) to liquid by modifying the molecular structure. The branching introduced at specific carbon positions lowers the melting point and prevents crystallization, ensuring the collector remains liquid and easy to handle without requiring heating or additional solvents.
3Manufacturing precision
If high silicate content ores are processed, then ore quality improvement is needed, but selective removal becomes more difficult and iron loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the collector's molecular parameters by controlling the length of the hydrocarbon chain (C12-C24) and the position of ether groups to enhance selectivity. This parameter optimization allows the collector to maintain high selectivity even when processing ores with high silicate content, enabling effective separation and quality improvement without excessive iron loss.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
These compounds enhance the selective removal of silicate from iron ore, reducing the silicate content to low levels while minimizing iron ore loss, thus improving the quality of the iron mineral for direct reduction processes, and are conveniently used in liquid form within conventional flotation equipment.
Implementation Method 1
The negatively charged silicate can be hydrophobized using suitable amines. Injection of air in a flotation cell leads to formation of hydrophobic gas bubbles, which can transport the hydrophobized silicate particle to the top of the flotation cell.
Implementation Method 2
Injection of air in a flotation cell leads to formation of hydrophobic gas bubbles, which can transport the hydrophobized silicate particle to the top of the flotation cell.
Implementation Method 3
At the top a froth, which can be stabilized by a suitable frother, collects the silicate particles.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a process for enriching an iron mineral from a silicate containing iron ore by inverse flotation comprising the addition of a collector or collector composition comprising at least one of the compounds of formulae RO—X—NH2 (Ia); RO—X—NH3+Y− (Ib); RO—X—NH—Z—NH2 (IIa); and RO—X—NH—Z—NH3+Y− (IIb), in which X is a linear or branched aliphatic alkylene group containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms; Z is a linear or branched aliphatic alkylene group containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms; Y− is an anion; and R is an aliphatic group of the formula (I) C5H11CH(C3H7)CH2— (I) wherein the C5H11 moeity of the aliphatic group of the formula (I) comprises 70 to 99% by weight n-C5H11—, and 1 to 30% by weight C2H5CH(CH3)CH2— and/or CH3CH(CH3)CH2CH2—.RO—X—NH2 (Ia)RO—X—NH3+Y− (Ib)RO—X—NH—Z—NH2 (IIa)RO—X—NH—Z—NH3+Y− (IIb)C5H11CH(C3H7)CH2— (I)