Understanding the Flotation of Florida Refractory Phosphate Ore: The Value of Characterization Studies
Variability of the quality of phosphate ore feed to the flotation plant has been of great concern for the industry. This variability sometimes resulted in 10% to 50% decrease of P2O5 recovery, a reduction of P2O5 concentrate grade and/or both due to depression of the system. For this investigation,samples of refractory ore and easy-to-float ore were obtained from the same mining area in Central Florida; and then submitted to bench flotation tests using fatty acids (FA). To understand the cause of difference in flotation behavior of these apparently similar ores (grade, mineralogy, and physical appearance), bulk and surface characterization studies were conducted.Based on the results of characterization studies and bench flotation tests on both refractory and easy-to-float samples, it was possible to determine FA surface coverage. It was found that the surface coverage for the refractory ore was between 6.9% and 9.8%, corresponding to 0% and 80% recovery, respectively; whereas the easy-to-float ore showed surface coverage of 17.2% (89% recovery) to 24.6% (98% recovery). Since size analysis, surface area and pore size measurements showed small differences, it was thought that the surface coverage differences could be caused by the adsorption of natural compounds onto the phosphate ore surfaces, depressing the system. SEM, EDS,and Leaching and Solvent Extraction (LSX) studies were performed on the phosphate ores to demonstrate the proposed mechanism.This paper summarized our characterization studies, flotation results, and findings. The study showed that the new identified compounds were responsible for the flotation behaviors of the Florida refractory phosphate ores.
Phosphate flotation Flotation reagents Anionic collectors Cationic collectors pH modifiers Activators and depressants
F. J. Sotiuo G. X. Wang
ArrMaz Custom Chemicals, Mulberry, USA
国际会议
XXIV International Mineral Processing Congress(第24届国际矿物加工大会)
北京
英文
1933-1942
2008-09-24（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）