Enhancement of Efficiency of Low-Hydroxyethylated Alkyl Phenols as Regulators in Selective Flotation of Non-Sulphide Minerals

Abstract

The research findings on efficiency of hardly soluble low-hydroxyethylated iso-nonylphenols as regulators of selective flotation are presented. The methods for increasing their solubility are developed, which are based on using unsaturated carboxylic acids as wedding agents for alkaline salts. It is shown that addition of such wedding agents to ethoxylated iso-nonylphenols makes it possible to obtain stable aqueous micellar solutions or emulsions under much lower temperatures, as well as ensures permanence of the process and efficiency of regulating agents in selective flotation of phosphorus-bearing ores with fatty acid collector. Efficiency of the developed methods is proved by in practical application of one of them, which improved ore dressing performance, reduced labor content, energy input and time of solution preparation, and provided considerable economic effect.