International Minerals & Chemical Corp.

Imc Fertilizer, Inc.

Robert E Snow

James E Lawver

Walter O McClintock

This invention is directed to an improved froth flotation separation for beneficiating phosphate containing ores wherein an ore is preliminarily conditioned with an anionic agent and then subjected to froth flotation separation to concentrate the phosphate containing fraction. The improvement comprises the addition of sodium silicate near the end of the conditioning step before the beginning of the froth flotation.

Sodium silicate as a phosphate flotation modifier

A process for recovering phosphate values from silica-containing phosphate ores is provided. The ore has a particle size in the range of about 0.6 to 1.2 mm and is subjected to selective flotation in the presence of a cationic flotation reagent comprising a di(hydrophobic group) quaternary ammonium salt, wherein each of the hydrophobic groups contain 6 or more carbon atoms and at least one of the groups contains from about 10-20 carbon atoms, in combination with a hydrocarbon oil and a phosphate depressing agent.

Flotation process for recovery of phosphate values from ore

A method of beneficiating a phosphate ore containing silica and an alkaline earth metal carbonate impurity, particularly dolomite or calcite. The steps include testing the ore for excessive levels of carbonate impurities, the use of conventional flotation steps to remove silica, grinding the ore to a particle size in which at least 90% of the ore particles are less than 0.355 mm and thereafter reagentizing the ground phosphate containing ore with water, a carbonate collector, a phosphate depressant and a pH regulator to obtain a flotation feed having a solids level of about 20-30% and a pH of about 5.6-6.0. The flotation feed is then subjected to a reverse flotation in a flotation cell to remove carbonate impurities as the cell overflow and to collect a phosphate concentration as the cell underflow.

Method of beneficiating phosphate ores containing dolomite

A reverse flotation process for removing alkaline earth metal carbonate impurities particularly dolomite and calcite as the cell overflow from a flotation feed reagentized with water, a carbonate collector, a phosphate depressant and a pH regulator to about 20-30% solids and a pH of about 5.5-6.0. The phosphate concentrate is collected as the cell underflow. The carbonate collectors comprise stable salts of sulfonated linear fatty acids having a straight carbon chain of about eight to twenty-two carbon atoms and a direct sulfur to carbon bond. The sodium salt of sulfonated oleic acid is the preferred carbonate collector. Phosphate depressants include sodium tripolyphosphate. The flotation feed particle size is preferably such that 90% by weight of the particles pass through a 42 Mesh (Tyler) screen. The effectiveness of the separation improves as the particle size of the flotation feed is decreased.

Flotation of phosphate ores containing dolomite

A method is disclosed for beneficiating a phosphate ore matrix containing apatite, siliceous gangue, and an alkaline earth metal carbonate mineral impuritywhich includes the steps of washing and sizing the ore, subjecting it to a gravity separation, a conventional 'double float' flotation, and a phosphate-carbonate flotation separation to provide a phosphate ore concentrate having a high BPL content and a relatively low concentration of alkaline earth metal carbonate mineral impurity.

Method of beneficiating phosphate ores

A method is disclosed for beneficiating an apatitic phosphate ore containing an alkaline earth metal carbonate mineral impurity, which includes conditioning the phosphate ore in an aqueous conditioning slurry containing a cationic reagent at a concentration sufficient to reagentize the ore; and subjecting the reagentized ore to a froth flotation process wherein the apatite is recovered in the froth concentrate and the alkaline earth metal carbonate mineral impurity is rejected in the underflow tailing.

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Lakeland, FL, United States of America

Robert E Snow