CONCENTRATION OF PHOSPHATE ORE BY FLOTATION WITH/WITHOUT DESLIMING

摘要

Froth flotation for separation of phosphate minerals from other gangue minerals has been practicedrnby fatty acid flotation with pine oil as a frother. The conventional phosphate flotation process, sorncalled ‘double float’ process, includes anionic flotation fatty acid/fuel oil of the phosphate mineralsrnat alkaline pH, followed by cationic ‘reserve’ flotation of silica from the initial phosphate concentraternwith amine. In recent years, there are also many researches going on the concentration of phosphaternores by single-stage flotation due to the increasing demand stems from significantly lower cost, lowerrnsurfactant usage and better grade.rnIn this study, phosphate ore containing francolite as a main phosphate mineral was used and thernconcentration by single-stage flotation with a fatty acid derivative collector was studied. The effectrnof particle size and desliming method on the flotation was investigated in relation to the phosphaterngrade of concentrates produced. Feed particle size of 100 μm was found to be the most effective one.rnThe best result was obtained with desliming even without flotation and a slime material assayingrn38.1 per cent phosphate was produced as a concentrate.