Agglomerated hemicellulose compositions, methods of preparation thereof, and processes for enriching a desired mineral from an ore

• US 10,661,282 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2017
• Issued: 05/26/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kemira Oyj
• Original Assignee: Kemira Oyj
• Inventors: Wilson, Duane C., Yin, Xihui, Kofsky-Wofford, Stephanie, Casasus, Anna I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lithgow, Thomas M
• Application Number:
  US15/707,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20180078951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 209167, 252 61
• CPC Class Codes: B03D 1/016 Macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B03D 1/02 Froth-flotation processes
• CPC Class Codes: B03D 2201/06 Depressants
• CPC Class Codes: B03D 2203/02 Ores
• CPC Class Codes: C08B 37/0057 beta-D-Xylans, i.e. xylosaccharide, e.g. arabinoxylan, arabinofuronan, pentosans; (beta-1,3)(beta-1,4)-D-Xylans, e.g. rhodymenans; Hemicellulose; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 5/14 Hemicellulose; Derivatives thereof

Abstract

Methods for preparing agglomerated hemicellulose compositions are provided. Agglomerated hemicellulose compositions comprising agglomerates are also provided herein. Also disclosed are processes for enriching a desired mineral from an ore comprising the desired mineral, wherein the process comprises carrying out a flotation process in the presence of one or more collecting agents and a depressant composition comprising an agglomerated hemicellulose composition.

Claims

1. A process for enriching a desired mineral from an ore comprising the desired mineral and gangue, wherein the process comprises carrying out a flotation process in the presence of one or more collecting agents and a depressant composition, wherein the depressant composition comprises an agglomerated hemicellulose composition having at least about 50% of the agglomerates are retained on a 20 mesh sieve, at least about 90% of the agglomerates are retained on a 100 mesh sieve, and the size of the agglomerates ranges from about 0.1 to about 15 mm.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the desired mineral is an iron-containing mineral.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the gangue comprises oxides of silica, silicates or siliceous materials.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the flotation process is a reverse cationic flotation process.

5. A process for enriching iron from iron ore containing SiO₂, wherein the process comprises carrying out a flotation process in the presence of one or more collecting agents and a depressant composition, wherein the depressant composition comprises an agglomerated hemicellulose composition having at least about 50% of the agglomerates are retained on a 20 mesh sieve, at least about 90% of the agglomerates are retained on a 100 mesh sieve, and the size of the agglomerates ranges from about 0.1 to about 15 mm.

6. The process of claim 5, wherein the flotation process comprises:

(a) preparing an ore-water slurry by combining ore with water in a flotation cell;

(b) adding a depressant composition to the ore-water slurry;

(c) adding water to the ore-water slurry to provide a mixture having a solids content from about 20% to about 40%;

(d) adding at least one collecting agent to the mixture having a solids content from about 20% to about 40%; and

(e) beginning air flow to the flotation cell.