CATECHOL-CONTAINING POL YMERIC MATERIALS AS SELECTIVE pH-CONTROLLED FLOCCULANTS OF ULTRAFINE AQUEOUS DISPERSIONS OF RUTILE WITH RESPECT TO ILMENITE

Fully synthetic radical copolymers of vinyl monomers containing 3,4-bis(methoxymethoxy)phenyl or 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl residues with acrylic acid were prepared and tested for the selective flocculation of ultrafine aqueous dispersions of titanium minerals. Sedimentation tests showed that some of the prepared copolymers having molecular weight in the 150000-350000 range are excellent selective pRdependent flocculants of rutile with respect to ilmenite. A possible mechanism for the formation of flocs is briefly discussed.