UPGRADING OF LOW-QUALITY EGYPTIAN PHOSPHATE ORE USNIG FLOTATION TECHNOLOGY

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Environmental Basic Science, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Environmental Research

2 Minerals Processing, CMRDI

3 Geology DepartmentFaculty of Science Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University

4 Department of Environmental Basic Science, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Environmental Research, Ain Shams University.

Abstract

Processes to upgrade the quality of low-quality phosphate ore are considered essential for sustainable development. Previous studies on exploitation and beneficiation of low-quality ores pointed out that anion flotation processes were considered one of the most appropriate methods for upgrading the quality of phosphate ores to a grade that render it suitable to produce phosphoric acid. In this study, a low-quality sample of phosphate ore was used which contained 21% phosphorus pentoxide and impurities of calcite and silicates. The sample was ground to a size of (-250 + 45 microns) using a rod mill. A mixture of fatty acids and kerosene was used as a collector during anionic flotation. The main factors that affect the flotation process, such as the collector dose, pH, and temperature of the medium, were studied and optimized to obtain the ideal separation conditions. An economically and environmentally suitable beneficiated ore was obtained containing 32.23% of phosphorus pentoxide, 4.67% (insoluble materials) representing silica and 10.10% loss of ignition (representing carbonates) with a recovery rate of 80.01% from an original containing 21.50% phosphorus pentoxide, 13.0.3% insoluble materials, and 13.13% loss of ignition.
 

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