Claims
- 1. A process for separating an upgraded phosphorus ore from an aqueous slurry containing said phosphorus ore comprising particles from about minus 20 to about minus 150 mesh, comprising:
- (a) contacting the slurry at a pH of at least about 10 with a dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of sodium silicate, sodium hydroxide and polyacrylate in an amount sufficient to achieve dispersion in the slurry of substantially all the ore particles;
- (b) contacting the dispersed mixture of step (a) with a flotation collector in an amount sufficient to coat and render hydrophobic substantially all the ore particles capable of being coated therewith;
- (c) vigorously agitating the mixture of step (b) to achieve said coating;
- (d) contacting the mixture of step (c) with a hydrophobic nonionic polyethylene oxide in an amount sufficient to cause the agglomeration of substantial portions of the fine particles of about minus 150 mesh;
- (e) gently mixing the mixture of step (b) to provide dispersion of the polyethylene oxide of step (d) and form said agglomerates without significantly breaking up said agglomerates;
- (f) subjecting the mixture of step (e) to froth flotation by the addition of gas bubbles thereto;
- (g) separating the phosphorus-rich froth concentrate from the mixture of step (f).
- 2. The process according to claim 1 in which the particle size of said ore ranges from about 500 to about 10 microns.
- 3. The process according to claim 1 in which the solids to solution ratio in said aqueous slurry is between about 10% and about 30%.
- 4. A process for recovering a phosphorus ore upgraded by at least about 5% phosphate content from a phosphate slime containing clays and said phosphorus ore comprising particles of about minus 150 mesh in an aqueous slurry of a ratio of solids to liquids of between about 10% and about 30%, comprising:
- (a) adjusting the pH of said aqueous slurry to a pH of at least about 10;
- (b) contacting said slurry with a dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of sodium silicate, sodium hydroxide and polyacrylate in an amount sufficient to disperse the fine particles in the slurry;
- (c) contacting said slurry with an anionic polyacrylamide in an amount sufficient to agglomerate a substantial portion of the fine ore particles to the exclusion of the clay particles;
- (d) allowing the mixture of step (c) to separate into an upper slime phase and a lower flocculate concentrate phase;
- (e) contacting the concentrate phase with a flotation collector in an amount sufficient to coat and render hydrophobic substantially all of the ore particles capable of being coated therewith;
- (f) subjecting said concentrate phase to froth flotation by the addition of gas bubbles thereto; and
- (g) separating the phosphorus-rich froth concentrate from said concentrate phase.
- 5. The process of claim 4 in which the dispersing agent is a low molecular weight polyacrylate.
- 6. The process of claim 4 in which phosphate is recovered from particles of from about 10 microns to about 500 microns in size.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 524,889, filed Aug. 19, 1983, l now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry |
"Dispersion-Flocculation Characteristics of Florida Phosphate Slimes", A. F. Colombo, Bureau of Mines, Minnesota, U.S.A. |
Friend et al., "The Separation of Minerals from Mixtures by Selective Flocculation", Filtration & Separation, Jan.-Feb., 1972, pp. 25-28. |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
524889 |
Aug 1983 |
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