Fatty Alkyl Ether Alkylamine Alkoxylates for Silicate Flotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collectors for silicate flotation from iron ore exhibit inadequate selectivity and yield, which affects the quality of iron ore production by not effectively reducing silicate content below 2%.
Innovation Solution
The use of fatty alkyl ether alkylamine alkoxylates as a collector, either alone or in combination with other nitrogenous compounds, improves silicate flotation by enhancing recovery and selectivity, as represented by the formula R1—O—R2—NH(2-m)—[(R3)n—H]m, where R1 is a hydrocarbon group, R2 is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, R3 is an alkoxy group, and n and m have specific ranges, optimizing the separation process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional collectors (fatty amines, alkyl ether amines, alkyl ether diamines) are used for silicate flotation, then the flotation process can be carried out, but the selectivity and yield are inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical structure of the collector reagent. Specifically, it introduces a new class of compounds (fatty alkyl ether alkylamine alkoxylates with formula I) that have optimized hydrophobic (R1 group with 1-40 carbon atoms) and hydrophilic (alkoxy groups R3) components. This structural parameter change enables the reagent to achieve both high selectivity for silicate minerals and high flotation yield, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite material principles by creating a reagent with multiple functional components in a single molecular structure. The compound of formula I combines fatty alkyl chains (for hydrophobic interaction), ether linkages (for solubility and flexibility), and amine groups (for chemical interaction with silicate surfaces). This composite structure allows the reagent to simultaneously achieve high selectivity and high recovery, overcoming the limitations of conventional single-function collectors.
2Manufacturing precision
If silicate content is reduced to below 2% to obtain high-quality iron ore, then the quality of iron ore improves, but the flotation process requires more effective collectors which are not adequately provided by prior art
Solution Approach 1:
To achieve reliable high-quality iron ore production (silicate content below 2%), the patent changes the key parameter of the collector reagent from conventional fatty amines or alkyl ether amines to fatty alkyl ether alkylamine alkoxylates of formula I. This parameter change provides superior selectivity and flotation performance, ensuring consistent achievement of the quality target with high reliability across varying ore compositions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention incorporates feedback principles by optimizing the reagent structure based on performance requirements. The specific structural parameters of formula I (R1 with 1-40 carbon atoms, R2 with 2-4 carbon atoms, R3 as alkoxy groups, n between 1-50, m being 1 or 2) are designed to provide optimal balance between hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity, ensuring reliable performance in achieving the quality target of silicate content below 2% in the final product.
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
The fatty alkyl ether alkylamine alkoxylates significantly improve the recovery and selectivity of silicate flotation from iron ore, demonstrated by higher iron recovery percentages compared to standard collectors, even when used in combination with prior art reagents, across a wide pH range.
Implementation Method 1
the ground iron ore is brought together in a flotation cell with water and flotation reagents, wherein the silicate, by the use of a collector, is discharged with the froth, whereas the iron ore remains in what is termed the pulp
Implementation Method 2
the use of a collector, is discharged with the froth
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to the use of a compound of the formula (I) where R1 is a hydrocarbon group having 1-40 carbon atoms, R2 is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 2-4 carbon atoms, and also R3 is an alkoxy group, n is in the range from 1 to 50, and m is 1 or 2, as flotation reagent in silicate flotationR1—O—R2—NH(2-m)—[(R3)n—H]m (I).