| abstract |
The present invention relates to an improved process for beneficiating an ore containing sulfide materials with selective rejection of pyrite, pyrrhotite and other minerals and gangue. In particular, the process is useful for beneficiating ores and recovering metals such as copper, lead, zinc, etc., from said ores. In one embodiment the process comprises the steps of: n (A) forming a slurry of at least one crushed mineral-containing ore, water and at least one collector which is an acid, or an anhydride, ester, ammonium salt or metal salt of the acid that is represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein each R 1 and R 2 is independently a hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbyloxy or hydrocarbylthio group; n each X 1 and X 2 is independently sulfur or oxygen; n R 3 is a divalent hydrocarbyl group, hydrogen or hydrocarbyl group; n a is 0 or 1; n b is 0 or 1; n c is 1 or 2; n Q is a divalent, trivalent or tetravalent hydrocarbyl group or --C(X 3 )NR 5 Q'; n X 3 is sulfur or oxygen; n Q' is a divalent, trivalent or tetravalent hydrocarbyl group provided Q' is not divalent in Formula II; n Z is --S(O)OH, or --S(O) 2 OH. n (B) subjecting the slurry from step (A) to froth flotation to produce a froth; and n (C) recovering a mineral from the froth. |