BigPatents India

The present invention relates to a froth process in which silicates are separated from an iron ore in the presence of a collector containing a quaternary ammonium compound having the formula: Rl Rl N+ R3 R4 1/z Xz- (I), in which the groups Rlindependently are hydrocarbon groups, preferably aliphatic groups containing 6-14 carbon atoms and/or the group R2-(OR7)m-OR8-, where the groups R2 independently are acyl groups containing 6-14 carbon atoms, the group R7 independently are alkylene groups containing 2-4 carbon atoms, the groups R8 independently are alkylene groups containing 2-3 carbon atoms and m is a number from 0-5, R3 and R4 independently are alkyl groups containing 1-4 carbon atoms or groups (R5O)p, where the groups R5 independently are alkylene groups having 2-4 carbon atoms and p is number from 1-4, X is an anionic group, and z is the charge of the anion X. This collector has a high selectivity to concentrate silicate in the froth product, while a high yield of iron minerals is maintained in the bottom concentrate or concentrates.