Inventors:
Farhad Fadakar - Downingtown PA, US
Adam Chan - West Chester PA, US
Assignee:
Lyondell Chemical Technology, L.P. - Houston TX
International Classification:
C07C 41/03
C07C 43/13
C22B 15/00
C22B 11/10
B03D 1/008
US Classification:
568618, 568621, 568622, 568623, 252 61
Abstract:
Glycol ether compositions useful for metal recovery by froth flotation and processes for making the compositions are disclosed. In one process, dipropylene glycol methyl ether (DPM) is propoxylated to give a composition comprising 4 to 15 wt. % of DPM and at least 20 wt. % of tripropylene glycol methyl ether (TPM). In another process, the glycol ether composition is made from a distillation residue which comprises DPM, TPM, and a basic catalyst. Extraction of the residue with water to remove some of the basic catalyst is followed by propoxylated to give a composition which comprises less than 15 wt. % of DPM, at least 20 wt. % of TPM, and one or more PO-based glycols. In comparative froth tests, glycol ether compositions of the invention meet or exceed the performance of commercial frothers.
