Controlling the rheology of a metal ore residue

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021171723-A1
Application number	US-201915734386-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 5, 2019
Priority date	Jun 8, 2018
Publication date	Jun 10, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for preparing an aqueous mineral suspension from an aqueous metal ore residue into which a polymer (P) is introduced having a molecular mass Mw measured by GPC ranging from 2,000 to 20,000 g/mol and prepared by radical polymerisation of at least one anionic monomer (M). The invention also concerns the suspension produced, the Brookfield viscosity of which is lower than 1,800 mPa·s or the yield point of which is lower than 80 Pa.

First claim

1 . A method for preparing an aqueous mineral suspension, the method comprising:
adding, in an aqueous metal ore residue, at least one polymer (P), wherein the aqueous mineral suspension has a dry solid content greater than 40% by weight of the aqueous mineral suspension and the aqueous mineral suspension has at least one property selected from the group consisting of:
a Brookfield viscosity, measured at 100 rpm and at 25° C., of less than 1,800 mPa·s,
a flow threshold, measured at a temperature of 25° C. using a rheometer with imposed shearing, equipped with a bladed spindle, for a particular torsional loading, of less than 80 Pa and
a Brookfield viscosity, measured at 100 rpm and at 25° C., of less than 1,800 mPa·s and a flow threshold, measured at a temperature of 25° C. using a rheometer with imposed shearing, equipped with a bladed spindle, for a particular torsional loading, of less than 80 Pa, and
wherein the at least one polymer (P) has a molecular mass Mw, measured by GPC, ranging from 2,000 to 20,000 g/mol and the at least one polymer (P) is prepared by at least one radical polymerisation reaction, at a temperature greater than 50° C., of at least one anionic monomer (M) comprising at least one polymerisable olefinic unsaturation and at least one carboxylic acid group or one of its salts, in the presence of at least one radical-generating compound selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, acetyl peroxide, laurel peroxide, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, cumene hydroperoxide, ammonium persulphate, an alkaline metal persulphate, an azo compound, and their respective combinations or associations with at least one ion selected from the group consisting of Fe II , Fe III , Cu I , and Cu II .

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the aqueous mineral suspension has a viscosity of less than 1,500 mPa·s.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , in which the aqueous mineral suspension has:
a flow threshold of less than 70 Pa; a flow threshold greater than 10 Pa and less than 80 Pa; a flow threshold greater than 10 Pa and less than 70 Pa.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the aqueous mineral suspension has a dry solids content greater than 50% by weight.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the aqueous mineral suspension comprises from 0.01 to 2% by weight of the at least one polymer (P) (dry/dry relative to the aqueous metal ore residue).

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymer (P) is one, two or three different polymers or the adding further comprises adding at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a lignosulphonate derivative, a silicate, an unmodified polysaccharide and a modified polysaccharide.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
a metal ore of the aqueous metal ore residue is selected from the group consisting of lithium, strontium, lanthanide, actinide, uranium, rare earth, titanium, zirconium, vanadium, niobium, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, iron, cobalt, rhodium, iridium, nickel, palladium, platinum, copper, silver, gold, zinc, cadmium, tin and lead ores; the metal ore comprises a metal oxide, a metal sulphide or a metal carbonate, or the aqueous metal ore residue comprises a residual amount of a metal of less than 2,000 g per tonne (dry/dry) relative to an amount of the aqueous metal ore residue.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymer (P) is added:
before pumping the aqueous metal ore residue; during pumping the aqueous metal ore residue; after pumping the aqueous metal ore residue; before flocculation of the aqueous metal ore residue; during flocculation of the aqueous metal ore residue; after flocculation of the aqueous metal ore residue; before concentration of the aqueous metal ore residue; during concentration of the aqueous metal ore residue; after concentration of the aqueous metal ore residue; before conveying the aqueous metal ore residue; before storing the aqueous metal ore residue, or during storing the aqueous metal ore residue.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the polymerisation reaction is also carried out in the presence of at least one compound comprising phosphorus in the oxidation 1 state; the polymerisation reaction is carried out in the presence of at least one compound comprising phosphorus in the oxidation III state; the polymerisation reaction is also carried out in the presence of at least one compound comprising a bisulphite ion; the polymerisation reaction is also carried out in the presence of from 0.05 to 5% by weight, relative to a total amount of monomers, of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a xanthate derivative, a mercaptan compound and a compound of formula (I):

wherein:
X independently represents H, Na or K and
R independently represents a C 1 -C 5 -alkyl group;

the polymerisation reaction is carried out at a temperature ranging from 50 to 98° C.;
the polymerisation reaction is carried out in water, in a solvent, alone or in a mixture with water;
the polymer (P) has a molecular mass Mw, measured by GPC, ranging from 2,200 to 10,000 g/mol; or
the polymer (P) is completely or partially neutralised or
the polymerisation reaction uses:
100% by weight of the at least one anionic monomer (M) or
from 70% to 99.5% by weight of the at least one anionic monomer (M) and from 0.5% to 30% by weight of at least one other monomer.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one anionic monomer (M) comprises one or two carboxylic acid groups.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the polymerisation reaction also uses at least one other monomer selected from the group consisting of:
another anionic monomer, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid, a salt of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid, 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethanesulphonic acid, a salt of 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethanesulphonic acid, sodium methallyl sulphonate, styrene sulphonate and combinations or mixtures thereof, a non-ionic monomer comprising at least one polymerisable olefinic unsaturation, and a monomer of formula (II):

wherein:
R 1 and R 2 , identical or different, independently represent H or CH 3 ,
L 1 independently represents a group selected from the group consisting of C(O), CH 2 , CH 2 —CH 2 and O—CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 ,
L 2 independently represents a group selected from the group consisting of (CH 2 —CH 2 O), (CH 2 CH(CH 3 )O) y , (CH(CH 3 )CH 2 O), and combinations thereof, and
x, y and z, identical or different, independently represent an integer or decimal comprised in a range from 0 to 150 and a sum of x+y+z is comprised in a range from 10 to 150.

12 . An aqueous mineral suspension with a dry solids content that is greater than 50% by weight of the aqueous mineral suspension and having at least one property chosen among:
a Brookfield viscosity, measured at 100 rpm and at 25° C., of less than 1,800 mPa·s, a flow threshold measured at a temperature of 25° C. using a rheometer with imposed shearing, equipped with a bladed spindle, for a particular torsional loading, of less than 80 Pa and a Brookfield viscosity, measured at 100 rpm and at 25° C., of less than 1,800 mPa·s and a flow threshold, measured at a temperature of 25° C. using a rheometer with imposed shearing, equ

Assignees

• Coatex Sas

Inventors

• Bouzid Mehdi
• Jacquemet Christian
• Magny Benoit
• Mongoin Jacques

Classifications

• C08F220/06

  Acrylic acid; Methacrylic acid; Metal salts or ammonium salts thereof · CPC title

• C02F2103/10

  from quarries or from mining activities · CPC title

• C22B3/41

  using a solution of normally solid organic compounds, e.g. dissolved polymers, sugars, or the like · CPC title

• C22B15/00

  Obtaining copper · CPC title

• C08F2/22

  Emulsion polymerisation · CPC title