Phosphate: direct flotation, then reverse flotation to drop the carbonate
Phosphate rock is upgraded by direct flotation of the phosphate minerals, then reverse flotation after acid conditioning removes carbonate gangue.
Process route
The Pakistan programme is the reference: two rougher and two scavenger and two cleaner stages of direct flotation, acid conditioning, then three stages of reverse flotation.
Crushing and grinding
Crushing and grinding to liberate phosphate minerals from carbonate and silicate gangue.
Desliming
Removal of fines that consume reagent and depress selectivity.
Direct flotation
Two rougher, two scavenger and two cleaner stages recover the phosphate minerals.
Acid conditioning
The concentrate is conditioned with acid to prepare the surface for carbonate removal.
Reverse flotation
Three stages of reverse flotation remove carbonate, producing the final phosphate concentrate.
Equipment in this circuit
Manufactured at our own bases and matched to the circuit capacity, not bought package by package.
Jaw crusher
PE series for primary crushing and PEX series for secondary and fine crushing.
Ball mill
Wet grid mills for primary grinding and overflow mills for secondary grinding.
Hydrocyclone
XC, XHCV and XN series for classification, desliming and thickening duty.
Flotation cells
SF, JJF, XCF, KYF and BF machines up to 320 m3, plus flotation columns.
Thickener
Deep cone and high efficiency thickeners up to 100 m diameter.
Filter press
Plate and frame and membrane presses for concentrate and tailings dewatering.
Reference projects
Figures are those reported for these projects in the Xinhai project and test brochures.
Phosphate extended continuous test, concentrate at 22.43% P2O5, 62.10% yield and 56.10% recovery
Test work720 t/d phosphate processing plant
Plant scopeCommon questions
What result did the Pakistan programme reach?
Why is reverse flotation needed?
Can this run as a semi-industrial trial before construction?
Send the assay and the tonnage target for your Phosphate project.