Enrichment of low-grade phosphate coarse particles by froth-flotation process, at the Kef-Eddur washing plant, Tunisia
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ORIGINAL PAPER
Enrichment of low-grade phosphate coarse particles by froth-flotation process, at the Kef-Eddur washing plant, Tunisia Rim Zidi 1 & Chiraz Babbou-Abdelmalek 1 & Fredj Chaabani 1 & Laila Abbassi 2
Received: 29 October 2015 / Accepted: 25 April 2016 # Saudi Society for Geosciences 2016
Abstract Low-grade phosphate ore with impurities is becoming the primary source for phosphate; thus, more efficient methods are required for upgrading. Flotation is the predominant method for the processing of low-grade phosphate ore. The phosphate coarse particles of KefEddur washing plant (southern Tunisia), having a lowgrade phosphate, were studied to improve the recovery of phosphate flotation, lost during the washing process. The results of the chemical analysis of phosphate samples showed a grade of 12.51 % P2O5 with a carbonation rate of 2.9 %. Mineralogical study of a sample by X-ray diffraction showed the presence of the following minerals: the carbonate-fluorapatite, calcite, quartz, clinoptilolite (zeolite), and dolomite. Testing of dry grinding showed that the work index is of 10.39 kWh/t achieving an economical consumption of energy. Milling tests having high values of recovery are accompanied by a raised rate of carbonation, non-tolerable to enter the flotation circuits, dictated an intermediate determination of parameters simultaneously providing considerable recovery while having a tolerable rate of carbonation. Optimizing the operating parameters of flotation (3 scavengers, 320 g/t ester and 340 g/t amine), specifications of the best flow-sheet obtained are as follows: crushing 10 mm and ball milling
* Rim Zidi [email protected]
1
Mineral Resources and Environment Laboratory, Department of Geology, Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 2092, Tunis, Tunisia
2
Gafsa Phosphate Company (GPC), Gafsa, Tunisia
(T = 5.5 min, Cs = 45 %, Rc = 3/1, Vbr = 60 tr/min). Attrition released during the first 10 min, second attrition of the same fraction for 20 min and reverse flotation render a grade of 26.80 % P2O5. The results of Kef-Eddur enrichment tests present an increase of 12.51 to 26.80 % P2O5. Application of flotation process is an alternative for this phosphate type. Keywords Phosphate recovery . Froth-flotation process . Ore beneficiation . Ball milling . Fluorapatite
Introduction The Kef-Eddur sedimentary-type phosphate mine and washing plant is situated 315 km southwest of the Tunis City in Tunisia. The quadrangle of the study area is defined by 436.600 to 447.150 mE and 3.801.700 to 3.810.00 mN, eastings and northings respectively (UTM zone 32N). This study area is accessible through a 12-km dirt road from the north of Al-Mitlawwi town or a 20-km dirt road from the east of Al-Rudayyif town, in the Gafsa Province. The phosphate deposits, in which apatite is the predominant mineral (Peter et al. 2014), were discovered in Tunisia in 1885 by Philippe Thomas in Foum-Thelja located in the Gafsa basin near the Al-Metlawwi city. The principal phosp
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