Neutral hydrocarboxycarbonyl thionocarbamate sulfide collectors

Abstract

New and improved collector compositions for use in froth flotation processes for the beneficiation of mineral values from base metal sulfide ores are disclosed. The collector compositions comprise at least one hydrocarboxycarbonyl thionocarbamate compound selected from compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R 1 and R 2 are each, independently, selected from saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbyl radicals, alkyl polyether radicals and aromatic radicals, or such radicals optionally substituted by polar groups selected from halogen, nitrile and nitro groups. The use of the hydrocarboxycarbonyl thionocarbamate collectors provides excellent metallurgical recoveries of sulfide mineral values in froth flotation processes conducted over a broad range of pH conditions including acid, neutral and mildly alkaline pH.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A collector composition for froth flotation of sulfide minerals comprising at least one hydrocarboxycarbonyl thionocarbamate selected from the group consisting of: .[.N-ethoxycarbonyl-O-n-butyl thionocarbamate;.].   N-ethoxycarbonyl-O-isobutyl thionocarbamate;   N-ethoxycarbonyl-O-sec. butyl thionocarbamate;   N-ethoxycarbonyl-O-n-amyl thionocarbamate;   N-ethoxycarbonyl-O-isoamyl thionocarbamate;   N-ethoxycarbonyl-O-phenyl thionocarbamate;   N-phenoxycarbonyl-O-ethyl thionocarbamate;   N-phenoxycarbonyl-O-isopropyl thionocarbamate;   N-phenoxycarbonyl-O-n-butyl thionocarbamate;   N-phenoxycarbonyl-O-isobutyl thionocarbamate;   N-phenoxycarbonyl-O-sec. butyl thionocarbamate;   N-phenoxycarbonyl-O-n-amyl thionocarbamate and   N-phenoxycarbonyl-O-isoamyl thionocarbamate. .[.2. A collector composition as defined in claim 1 wherein the thionocarbamate is   
     
     
        N-ethoxycarbonyl-O-n-butyl thionocarbamate..]. 3. A collector composition is defined in claim 1 wherein the thionocarbamate is 
     
     
        N-ethoxycarbonyl-O-isobutyl thionocarbamate. 4. A collector composition as defined in claim 1 wherein the thionocarbamate is N-ethoxycarbonyl-O-sec. 
     
     
        butyl thionocarbamate. 5. A collector composition as defined in claim 1 wherein the thionocarbamate is N-ethoxycarbonyl-O-n-amyl thionocarbamate. 
     
     
         . A collector composition as defined in claim 1 wherein the 
     
     
        thionocarbamate is N-ethoxycarbonyl-O-isoamyl thionocarbamate. 7. A collector composition as defined in claim 1 wherein the thionocarbamate is 
     
     
        N-ethoxycarbonyl-O-phenyl thionocarbamate. 8. A collector composition as defined in claim 1 wherein the thionocarbamate is 
     
     
        N-phenoxycarbonyl-O-ethyl thionocarbamate. 9. A collector composition as defined in claim 1 wherein the thionocarbamate is 
     
     
        N-phenoxycarbonyl-O-isopropyl thionocarbamate. 10. A collector composition as defined in claim 1 wherein the thionocarbamate is 
     
     
        N-phenoxycarbonyl-O-n-butyl thionocarbamate. 11. A collector composition as defined in claim 1 wherein the thionocarbamate is 
     
     
        N-phenoxycarbonyl-O-isobutyl thionocarbamate. 12. A collector composition as defined in claim 1 wherein the thionocarbamate is 
     
     
        N-phenoxycarbonyl-O-sec. butyl thionocarbamate. 13. A collector composition as defined in claim 1 wherein the thionocarbamate is 
     
     
        N-phenoxycarbonyl-O-n-amyl thionocarbamate. 14. A collector composition as defined in claim 1 wherein the thionocarbamate is N-phenoxycarbonyl-O-isoamyl thionocarbamate.