Nalco Company

Ecolab USA Inc.

Nalco Chemical Company

Ondeo Nalco Company

John David Kildea

Ryan Chester

Robert P Mahoney

Manian Ramesh

Everett C Phillips

Jing Wang

Timothy La

John T Malito

Larry E Brammer, Jr

Murat Quadir

Ji Cui

Heinrich Enoch Bode

James A Counter

David H Slinkman

Carl Nicholas Urbani

Kim Richard Coleman

Xiaojin Harry Li

Dmitri L Kouznetsov

Jianjun Liu

Graeme J Farquharson

James Adrian Counter

Anthony E Gross

Kailas B Sawant

Kevin O'Brien

Frederick J Swiecinski

Stephen C Grocott

Heinrich E Bode

Kevin L O'Brien

Carl Nicolas Urbani

Described herein is a method of adding one or more boronic acid functional compounds to a mineral ore to result in a treated mineral ore. Where the mineral ore is a bauxite ore, and the ore is subsequently processed according to the Bayer process to obtain alumina, adding a boronic acid functional compound to the bauxite ore or a Bayer product followed by processing the treated bauxite ore or treated Bayer product using one or more processes associated with the Bayer process results in an increased yield of alumina product, increased alumina content (purity) in the alumina product obtained, or both when compared to the same bauxite ore or Bayer product subjected to the same process(es) but in the absence of a boronic acid functional compound.

Purification of ores using boronic acid-functional compounds

The invention provides methods and compositions for inhibiting the accumulation of DSP scale in the liquor circuit of Bayer process equipment. The method includes adding one or more GPS-surfactant based small molecules to the liquor fluid circuit. These scale inhibitors reduce DSP scale formation and thereby increase fluid throughput, increase the amount of time Bayer process equipment can be operational and reduce the need for expensive and dangerous acid washes of Bayer process equipment. As a result, the invention provides a significant reduction in the total cost of operating a Bayer process.

Surfactant based small molecules for reducing aluminosilicate scale in the Bayer process

The invention provides methods and compositions for improving a froth flotation type separation. The method uses a microemulsion to improve the effectiveness of a frother. The improvement allows for low dosages of frother to work as well as much greater amounts of non-microemulsified frother.

Frothers for mineral flotation

Surfactant based small molecules for reducing aluminosilicate scale in the bayer process

The invention provides methods and compositions for improving a froth flotation type separation. The method uses a microemulsion to improve the effectiveness of a collector. The improvement allows for low dosages of collector to work as well as much greater amounts of non-microemulsified collector.

Collectors for mineral flotation

The invention provides methods and compositions for improving the rheology of red mud removed from Bayer Process liquor. The method includes adding a flocculant and a cross-linked polysaccharide to the liquor. This combination separates the red mud from the liquor but also prevents the red mud from becoming too thick. By preventing excessive thickness, the method allows for the formation of extremely dense amounts of red mud even in primary settlers because the dense red mud can still flow. As a result a user can simultaneously enjoy both easy handling of red mud and also high recovery rates of valuable alumina and caustic from the red mud.

Chemical treatment to improve red mud separation and washing in the bayer process

The invention provides methods and compositions for improving the production of alumina trihydrate. The invention involves adding one or more cross-linked polysaccharides to a filter used to separate solids from liquid in the Bayer process. The one or more polysaccharides can be a cross-linked polysaccharide (such as cross-linked dextran or cross-linked dihydroxypropyl cellulose). The cross-linked polysaccharides can impart a number of advantages including greater flow rate and lower residual moisture in the resulting cake.

Methods to improve filtration for the Bayer process

The invention provides methods and compositions for improving the production of alumina hydrate. The invention involves adding one or more cross-linked ethylsulfonated polysaccharides to liquor or slurry in the fluid circuit of the production process. The one or more polysaccharides include cross-linked dextran or cross-linked dihydroxypropyl cellulose. The various polysaccharides can impart a number of advantages including at least some of: greater flocculation effectiveness, increasing the maximum effective dosage, faster settling rate. The production process can be a Bayer process.

Cross-linked ethylsulfonated dihydroxypropyl cellulose

The invention provides a method of inhibiting the accumulation of DSP scale in the liquor circuit of Bayer process equipment. The method includes adding one or more particular silane based small molecules to the liquor fluid circuit. These scale inhibitors reduce DSP scale formation and thereby increase fluid throughput, increase the amount of time Bayer process equipment can be operational and reduce the need for expensive and dangerous acid washes of Bayer process equipment. As a result, the invention provides a significant reduction in the total cost of operating a Bayer process.

Reducing aluminosilicate scale in the bayer process

The present invention relates to compositions and methods to increase the output of a high quality product from the precipitation liquor crystallization process exemplified through the aluminum hydroxide recovery processes such as the Bayer process. The invention is a method of increasing the size of precipitates from a liquor. The invention in one embodiment relates to the use of a crystal growth modifier compositions added to the precipitation process to increase the particle size distribution of the precipitated alumina trihydrate.

Composition for enhancing the production of crystal agglomerates from a precipitation liquor

Reducing aluminosilicate scale in the Bayer process

The invention provides methods and compositions for improving the production of alumina. The invention involves adding a product containing one or more polysaccharides to liquor within the fluid circuit of the production process, where one of the polysaccharides is scleroglucan. The use of scleroglucan can impart a number of advantages including at least some of: greater flocculation effectiveness, increasing the maximum effective dosage, faster settling rate. The production process can be a Bayer process.

Recovery of alumina trihydrate during the Bayer process using scleroglucan

The present invention relates ways to increase the output of a high quality product from the precipitation liquor crystallization process exemplified through the aluminum hydroxide recovery processes such as the Bayer process. The invention is a method of increasing the size of precipitated of a liquor. The invention in one embodiment relates to the use of a crystal growth modifier compositions added to the precipitation process to increase the particle size distribution of the precipitated alumina trihydrate.

Composition and method for enhancing the production of crystal agglomerates from a precipitation liquor

The invention provides methods and compositions for improving the production of alumina. The invention involves adding a product containing one or more polysaccharides to liquor within the fluid circuit of the production process, where one of the polysaccharides is scieroglucan. The use of scleroglucan can impart a number of advantages including at least some of: greater flocculation effectiveness, increasing the maximum effective dosage, faster settling rate. The production process can be a Bayer process.

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Baldivis, Australia

John David Kildea