Froth Flotation (Sulphide & Oxide)

Froth Flotation (Sulphide & Oxide)

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Phosphate and Carbonate Selectivity (11 replies)

Sandeep Bisht
8 years ago
Sandeep Bisht 8 years ago

As you know in flotation of sedimentary Phosphate deposits, the main problem is similarity of Phosphate and carbonate properties. The Question is this: what other minerals have same properties between Valuable and gangue minerals?

S
Sturmbann
8 years ago
Sturmbann 8 years ago

e.g. calcite -CaCO3 and scheelite CaWO4 and powellite CaMoO4

Sandeep Bisht
8 years ago
Sandeep Bisht 8 years ago

I found all Calcite, Scheelite and powellite as carbonate minerals have a problem in flotation when they present as gangue. What do you suggest for depressing CaCO3 in flotation of sedimentary phosphate?

Raje Singh
8 years ago
Raje Singh 8 years ago

It really depends on your ore by the way, Oxalic acid (OA) that would be one way, if you know the ZPC of your valuable mineral; you can decrease pH by OA, and depress carbonate minerals. Mineral liberation analysis is very important. Probably you have to do that on different steps and gradually.

Sandeep Bisht
8 years ago
Sandeep Bisht 8 years ago

Thanks for your attention; my ore is very low-grade sedimentary phosphate.

Raje Singh
8 years ago
Raje Singh 8 years ago

Have a look to the article entitle "Reagents used in the flotation of phosphate ores: a critical review".

(unknown)
8 years ago
(unknown) 8 years ago

There is a novel American patent addresses this problem - flotation separation of apatite from carbonates such as dolomite in phosphate bearing ores.

The patent describes a precipitation technique - in-situ precipitation of base metal sulphides (e.g. copper) onto the apatite surfaces - followed by the application of 'sulphide' as well as 'oxide' collectors with good success.

Should be readily adaptable to practice - however the economics should be checked with a trade-off study or two.

By the way, powellite is brittle and slimes readily, causing significant entrainment as well as floating with the scheelite. We used a sodium carbonate leach to remove this mineral from the scheelite concentrate.

In general, it is difficult to get 'clean' separations in 'oxide' mineral systems where the IEPs (or old fashioned ZPCs) are similar. However some separation systems have successfully applied depressants. There is quite a bit of classical literature on the topic.

Sandeep Bisht
8 years ago
Sandeep Bisht 8 years ago

Thanks for your description, Several studies have been done on this ore, some of them was used calcinations followed by flotation and leaching and some of them worked on direct and reserve flotation, the reserve flotation, calcinations followed by leaching and flotation had some good results but they aren't economic, I'm trying to upgrading the ore by direct flotation, my main problem is similarity of surface chemistry of apatite and calcite. I think important way is to depressing calcite by some selective calcite depressant and then float apatite.

S
Sturmbann
8 years ago
Sturmbann 8 years ago

To recommend something for depressing CaCO3 or phosphate I would need a more detail description of your process flowsheet as well as minerals composition of the ore.

Sandeep Bisht
8 years ago
Sandeep Bisht 8 years ago

I'm working on this project as my master dissertation.

My ore XRF analysis is as follow: SiO2: 9.24% , Al2O3: 2.45% , Fe2O3: 1.67% , CaO: 46.01% , Na2O: 0.28% , K2O: 0.38% , MgO: 0.72% , TiO2: 0.102%

My major phase is Calcite, Minor are Fluorapatite, Quartz, Kaolinite and iolite.

Jean Rasczak
8 years ago
Jean Rasczak 8 years ago

At fluorspar flotation, the principal gangue is calcite > 50%. We used hot slurry (60 °C) and quebracho (natural tannic acid + Na2CO3) in combination with a fatty acid based collector. Our product have 97% min CaF2 and 1.4 max CaCO3.

M
Marcia
7 years ago
Marcia 7 years ago

Hi, Cajati phosphate mine use concentration of apatite in carbonatitic rocks, like your sample. I think that you could have some articles about this.

http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/3/3134/tde-18082016-081606/pt-br.php

http://www.cprm.gov.br/publique/media/diss_marianebrumatti.pdf

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