Selenium-Containing Flotation Collectors Expand Copper Sulfide Reagent Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flotation reagents for copper sulfide minerals face a bottleneck due to limited molecular structures, primarily relying on nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) atoms, making it difficult to develop new structural designs for improved selectivity and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of selenium (Se) atoms into the functional groups of organic compounds as copper sulfide flotation collectors, forming five-ligand structures of Se, N, O, P, and S, which enhance interaction with copper sulfide minerals through stronger π bonds, providing better selectivity and flotation performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional flotation collectors using N, O, P, S atoms are used, then the flotation process has established performance, but the molecular structure diversity is limited and further improvement is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces selenium atoms as a new ligand type, changing the chemical composition parameter of flotation collectors from the conventional N, O, P, S tetrad to include Se, creating a five-ligand system (Se, N, O, P, S). This parameter change expands molecular structure diversity while maintaining flotation performance through selenium's similar chemical properties to sulfur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite molecular structures combining selenium atoms with traditional ligand atoms (N, O, P, S) in various configurations. These composite collectors integrate the coordinating ability of selenium with the established functionality of conventional ligands, achieving both structural diversity and reliable flotation performance.
2Manufacturing precision
If new structural designs are attempted to improve selectivity, then flotation selectivity may be enhanced, but the development has entered a bottleneck period with few successful reports
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the ligand atom type from the conventional four (N, O, P, S) to five (Se, N, O, P, S), the patent opens a new parameter space for structural design. This allows systematic exploration of novel molecular architectures with improved selectivity without starting from scratch, thereby increasing development efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by replacing specific ligand atoms (S, O, or N) with selenium atoms at strategic positions in the molecular structure. This localized substitution allows optimization of selectivity for specific copper sulfide minerals while maintaining the overall functional architecture of proven collector molecules.
3Adaptability or versatility
If selenium atoms are introduced as new ligand atoms, then new structural designs and improved selectivity are achieved, but the flotation reagent structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent systematically explores selenium-containing structures by varying the position, number, and combination of selenium atoms with other ligands. This parameter-based approach organizes the complexity into manageable design spaces, allowing rational development of diverse yet structurally coherent collector molecules.
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 selenium-containing collectors achieve flotation effects comparable to or exceeding those of conventional collectors with N, O, P, S structures, offering improved selectivity and performance in copper sulfide flotation processes.
Implementation Method 1
the atoms with coordination ability in the functional groups of flotation reagents are mainly N, O, S
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an application of a class of selenium-containing organic compounds in copper sulfide flotation collectors, including organic compound with selenium atoms as functional groups and containing single selenium atom or multiple selenium atoms, where the organic compound with selenium atoms as functional groups and containing single selenium atom or multiple selenium atoms includes but not limited to selenophene, phenylselenol and diselenide as copper collectors; and a class of organic compound containing selenium atoms combined with nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur and carbon, where the class of organic compound containing selenium atoms combined with nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur and carbon includes but not limited to selenomethyl ester, carbonyl selenomethyl ester, oxycarbonyl selenomethyl ester, selenourea, selenium nitrogen, selenoxanthonic acid, selenoxanthate, selenophosphoric acid, selenium phosphate ester, triphenylphosphine selenide, all kinds of benzoselenediazole molecules as copper collectors.