Innovations in beneficiation technology for low grade phosphate rocks

Abstract

As high grade deposits of phosphate rock are being depleted day by day in the world, future sources will be derived from low grade rocks containing various impurities. Low grade phosphate rocks are not suitable for direct use in acidulation plants unless their tricalcium phosphate (TCP) content is increased to 70% or more, using conventional methods such as crushing, screening, and drying, or some other physical separation process which include washing and desliming. Other special beneficiation techniques may also be applied, such as calcination, flotation and leaching before taking it as feed for the phosphatic industry.