Separation Science and Technology, Vol.55, No.5, 967-979, 2020
Processing of an East Mediterranean phosphate ore sample by an integrated attrition scrubbing/classification scheme (part one)
In this study, an Egyptian siliceous/calcareous sedimentary phosphorite was subjected to beneficiation by unsophisticated economic means. The mineralogical and chemical examination showed that the ore sample is a typical example for the East Mediterranean phosphorites with 21.80% P2O5, 10.93% acid insoluble and 16.61% loss on ignition. The primary crushed sample was classified into three size fractions without any milling and they were separately subjected to an integrated attrition scrubbing study. Screening and classification on the 2.30 mm and 0.071 mm sieves were sequentially introduced with the attrition process. The effect of solid%, attrition speed and time were studied and optimized for each size fraction. Results showed that three products were produced and could be categorized according to their P2O5 content into the coarse tailing (+2.30 mm), the attrition concentrate (-2.30 + 0.071 mm) and the phosphate fines (-0.071 mm). The P2O5 contents of these products reached 12.24%, 28.72% and 18.77%, with P2O5 distribution reached 6.74%, 51.75% and 41.51%, respectively. A global P2O5 of 28.72% was obtained with a recovery of about 52%. A tentative flow-sheet for the whole process was postulated.