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Alkylesteramines—A New Surfactant Family with Improved
Environmental Profile for Reverse Flotation of Iron Ore
Natalija Smolko Schwarzmayr, Jan-Olof Gustafsson, Krzysztof Kolman, Henrik Nordberg
Mining Chemicals, Nouryon Surface Chemistry AB, Stenungsund, Sweden
ABSTRACT: Alkyletheramines are benchmark surfactants widely used in the field of removal of silicates from
the iron ore. However, despite their outstanding performance they lack a good sustainability profile.
A new family of surfactants, alkylesteramines has been developed. They contain an ester – a labile chemical bond
(to improve biodegradability and toxicity) and a primary amine group (to ensure cationicity).
Several novel alkylesteramine based surfactants were synthesized. Toxicity, biodegradability and collecting prop-
erties of the novel surfactants were evaluated and compared to the ones of conventional alkyletheramines.
The novel alkylesteramines showed 60% biodegradation already after 19 days in the standard OECD test. This
novel cationic also showed reduced toxicity—25 times less toxic towards Daphnia and 1.8 times less towards
Algae.
The laboratory flotation results showed that the new surfactant family provides similar grade/recovery perfor-
mance as the well-established products in the field of alkyletheramines. In addition, the new alkylesteramine
showed improved frothing properties.
Keywords: alkyesteramines, silica flotation, toxicity, aqua-toxicity, biodegradability
INTRODUCTION
Surface active agents (e.g., surfactants) are used on an
everyday basis within a wide range of applications such as
cleaning, personal care, agriculture, oilfield, asphalt, min-
ing, etc. Synthetic surfactants are usually highly efficient
and provide often outstanding properties in many appli-
cations. However, many of these products are under pres-
sure to be phased out from the market due to their poor
biodegradability.
More than 70 years of research have been focused on
the design of readily biodegradable surfactants. Chemicals
are regarded as being readily biodegradable when they have
the natural ability to biodegrade at least 60% in 28 days
when subjected to sunlight, water, and microbial activity
(Swisher, 1987).
Today the trend in the development of new surfac-
tants points towards design of chemicals with an improved
sustainability profile (biodegradability and toxicity) and
high performance (including efficiency and selectivity)
(Gorochovceva et al., 2014).
Surfactants that are used as collectors in the reverse
flotation of iron ore usually belong to a family of
Alkylesteramines—A New Surfactant Family with Improved
Environmental Profile for Reverse Flotation of Iron Ore
Natalija Smolko Schwarzmayr, Jan-Olof Gustafsson, Krzysztof Kolman, Henrik Nordberg
Mining Chemicals, Nouryon Surface Chemistry AB, Stenungsund, Sweden
ABSTRACT: Alkyletheramines are benchmark surfactants widely used in the field of removal of silicates from
the iron ore. However, despite their outstanding performance they lack a good sustainability profile.
A new family of surfactants, alkylesteramines has been developed. They contain an ester – a labile chemical bond
(to improve biodegradability and toxicity) and a primary amine group (to ensure cationicity).
Several novel alkylesteramine based surfactants were synthesized. Toxicity, biodegradability and collecting prop-
erties of the novel surfactants were evaluated and compared to the ones of conventional alkyletheramines.
The novel alkylesteramines showed 60% biodegradation already after 19 days in the standard OECD test. This
novel cationic also showed reduced toxicity—25 times less toxic towards Daphnia and 1.8 times less towards
Algae.
The laboratory flotation results showed that the new surfactant family provides similar grade/recovery perfor-
mance as the well-established products in the field of alkyletheramines. In addition, the new alkylesteramine
showed improved frothing properties.
Keywords: alkyesteramines, silica flotation, toxicity, aqua-toxicity, biodegradability
INTRODUCTION
Surface active agents (e.g., surfactants) are used on an
everyday basis within a wide range of applications such as
cleaning, personal care, agriculture, oilfield, asphalt, min-
ing, etc. Synthetic surfactants are usually highly efficient
and provide often outstanding properties in many appli-
cations. However, many of these products are under pres-
sure to be phased out from the market due to their poor
biodegradability.
More than 70 years of research have been focused on
the design of readily biodegradable surfactants. Chemicals
are regarded as being readily biodegradable when they have
the natural ability to biodegrade at least 60% in 28 days
when subjected to sunlight, water, and microbial activity
(Swisher, 1987).
Today the trend in the development of new surfac-
tants points towards design of chemicals with an improved
sustainability profile (biodegradability and toxicity) and
high performance (including efficiency and selectivity)
(Gorochovceva et al., 2014).
Surfactants that are used as collectors in the reverse
flotation of iron ore usually belong to a family of