Abstract
This research aims to explore the effect of ultrasound irradiation as a pretreatment method on the reverse flotation of phosphates. Ultrasonic treatment was used prior to flotation at various ultrasound intensities. The feed sample containing 10.34% P2O5 and 48.01% CaO was obtained from Lar mountain located in southwest of Iran. Flotation experiments were performed using two approaches: (1) a 2-level fractional factorial design with six variables and (2) try and error method. The results of experimental design showed that depressant type and pH were the effective parameters. The collected data from try and error experiments indicated that the conditioning time was the most effective parameter on the recovery. (By reducing the conditioning time from 11 to 6 min, the recovery was increased from 65.93 to 87.88%.) Furthermore, surface cleaning of phosphate minerals treated by ultrasound waves was proved by kinetic analysis, semiquantitative analysis by XRD and SEM–EDX. It was concluded that efficiency of phosphate flotation using ultrasound irradiation due to the cavitation bubbles that led to clean surface of particles is higher compared to the conventional flotation. After a cleaner step, the final grade and recovery of P2O5 reached 21.31% and 77.18%, respectively.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions A: Science
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
