Reagent scheme for sedimentary phosphate flotation
A process of phosphate flotation comprising: pulping phosphate ore with water to about 55% to 75% solids to produce an ore slurry; conditioning the ore slurry with a new reagent scheme to produce a conditioned slurry; subjecting the conditioned slurry to flotation to produce an underflow and an overflow; and collecting the overflow as phosphate concentrate. The new reagent scheme may comprise a combination of fatty acid, fuel oil, and fatty acid soap, and may not comprise a pH modifier. The process may also work effectively at a lower percent solids than conventional reagent schemes.
1. A process of phosphate flotation comprising:
pulping phosphate ore with water to about 55% to 75% solids to produce an ore slurry;
conditioning the ore slurry with a reagent scheme to produce a conditioned slurry, where the reagent scheme comprises a combination of fatty acid, fuel oil, and fatty acid soap and does not comprise a pH modifier and where the pH of the ore slurry and the pH of the conditioned slurry are not modified with a pH modifier;
subjecting the conditioned slurry to flotation to produce an underflow and an overflow; and
collecting the overflow as phosphate concentrate.
2. The process of claim 1 where the conditioning step takes place at a pH of 7 to 8.
3. The process of claim 1 further comprising diluting the conditioned slurry with plant water prior to flotation.
4. The process of claim 1 where the flotation step is the only flotation performed prior to collecting the phosphate concentrate for coarse flotation feed.
5. The process of claim 1 where the process does not comprise a second flotation step for coarse flotation feed.
6. The process of claim 1 where the reagent scheme does not comprise a depressant to improve flotation selectivity.