COLLECTOR COMPOSITION CONTAINING BIODEGRADABLE COMPOUND AND PROCESS FOR TREATING SILICEOUS ORES

The present disclosure relates to a collector composition containing (i) as a primary collector the compound of the formula (I) wherein R is an alkyl group containing between about 5 and about 16 carbon atoms that may be branched or linear, k is a value of about 1 to 3, m is an integer from about 0 to about 25, each A independently is -CH2-CH2- or -CH2CH(CH3)- or -CH2-CH(CH2-CH3)-, n is an integer of at least about 3 and at most about 8, and wherein X is an anion derivable from deprotonating a Brønsted-Lowry acid, and (ii) a second compound selected from the group of other primary collectors, secondary collectors, depressants, frothers, and solvents. The disclosure also relates to a process to treat siliceous ore that contains a step of froth flotating in the presence of a collector composition that contains the primary collector compound.