Hydroxamic Acid Collector for Bastnaesite Flotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional flotation methods for separating rare earth metals from bastnaesite ores rely on costly carboxylic acid collectors, making the process economically inefficient and environmentally unfriendly.
Innovation Solution
A cost-effective and environmentally friendly flotation process using a collector mixture that includes hydroxamic acids and a frother agent, along with a depressant and pH conditioner, to selectively concentrate rare earth metal compounds through froth flotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If carboxylic acid collectors are used for flotation separation, then separation effectiveness is improved, but operational cost increases and environmental friendliness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive carboxylic acid collectors with cheaper alternative collectors that achieve effective separation. The new collector system uses more economical reagents while maintaining or improving separation performance, directly addressing the cost-effectiveness problem without sacrificing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the collector system by switching from carboxylic acid-based collectors to alternative collector chemistry. This parameter change enables cost reduction while maintaining separation effectiveness, and the patent optimizes pH conditions and collector dosages to enhance the performance of the new collector system
2Reliability
If carboxylic acid collectors are used for flotation separation, then separation effectiveness is improved, but environmental impact worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes environmentally problematic carboxylic acid collectors with more environmentally benign alternative collectors. This replacement reduces environmental harm while maintaining separation effectiveness, addressing both the ecological and technical requirements simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the collector system to use more environmentally friendly reagents. By changing the collector chemistry and optimizing operational parameters like pH and dosage, the patent achieves effective separation with reduced environmental impact
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 process effectively separates rare earth metal compounds from bastnaesite ores with improved efficiency and reduced costs, enhancing the economic viability and environmental sustainability of the separation process.
Implementation Method 1
The separation of rare earth metals from crude ore has typically relied on a flotation separation process, based on hydrophobicity differences, and relies on use of a 'collector agent' that selectively associates with the target mineral(s)
Implementation Method 2
adding a frother agent to the slurry, followed by subjecting the slurry to froth flotation
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for using flotation techniques for separating rare earth metal compounds from bastnaesite ore. The method can include grinding the ore to obtain an aqueous slurry of particles, adding a depressant agent to the slurry and adjusting the pH to a suitable value for the flotation process, adding a collector mixture to the slurry that includes at least one hydroxamic acid, and adding a frother agent to the slurry, followed by subjecting the slurry to froth flotation.