The Beneficiation Processes of Low-Grade Sedimentary Phosphates of Tozeur-Nefta Deposit (Gafsa-Metlaoui Basin: South of Tunisia)

The enrichment of the low-grade-phosphate ore of the Tozeur-Nefta deposit was investigated using scrubbing-attrition, ball grinding and anionic/cationic reverse flotation in order to separate phosphate-rich particles from their gangue. The choice of the beneficiation process was based on the petrogr...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Haïfa Boujlel, Ghassen Daldoul, Haïfa Tlil, Radhia Souissi, Noureddine Chebbi, Nabil Fattah, Fouad Souissi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-12-01
Series:Minerals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/9/1/2
Description
Summary:The enrichment of the low-grade-phosphate ore of the Tozeur-Nefta deposit was investigated using scrubbing-attrition, ball grinding and anionic/cationic reverse flotation in order to separate phosphate-rich particles from their gangue. The choice of the beneficiation process was based on the petrographic, mineralogical and chemical analyses. The petrographic and mineralogical studies have revealed the abundance of phosphatic (carbonate-fluorapatite-CFA) particles) coupled with carbonates (calcite, dolomite,) and silicates (quartz, illite, kaolonite) that constitute the (endo/exo) gangue of these ores. Chemical analysis has demonstrated that the raw phosphate sample contains low amounts of P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> (12.0%) and MgO (4.9%) and high amounts of CaO (40.7%) and SiO<sub>2</sub> (20.5%). Microscopic observation/counting has shown that the release mesh occurs in the 71&#8315;315 &#956;m size. Scrubbing-attrition, grinding and reverse flotation methods were applied to the +71&#956;m fraction. Scrubbing-attrition tests of the 71&#8315;315 &#956;m fraction have helped to improve the P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> grade to 15.5%. Ball-grinding tests were used to reduce the coarse fraction +315 &#956;m. Grounded materials were sieved to 71&#8315;315 &#956;m and combined with the scrubbed fraction in the flotation feed. Reverse-flotation tests of the phosphate-rich fraction (71&#8315;315 &#956;m) have helped to improve the P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> grade to 27.1%, with a recovery rate of 92.4%.
ISSN:2075-163X