Phosphate tailings physical treatment process

There is also a part of phosphate minerals in the phosphate ore tailings. By recycling the concentrate part of the tailings, the recovery rate of phosphate ore resources and concentrates can be improved and the waste of resources can be reduced. Phosphate tailings can usually be treated by gravity separation, magnetic separation and flotation separation. The following will explain the processes and required equipment of the three methods.

a. Gravity separation

Gravity separation is a method based on differences in particle density. It is usually accomplished through the use of equipment such as jigs and shakers. In phosphate ore tailings treatment, gravity separation can be used to separate phosphate minerals from other gangue minerals or impurities, such as sand and clay.

Before gravity separation, tailings may require pre-treatment, such as screening or crushing, to ensure that the particles are of a suitable size for the separation operation. During re-selection, gravity causes particles to separate according to density differences, thereby achieving separation. Phosphate minerals typically settle to the bottom, while lightweight materials such as sand and clay float on the surface. In practical applications, it may be necessary to combine other separation methods, such as magnetic separation or flotation, to achieve the desired recovery effect.

b. Magnetic separation

Magnetic separation is a method of separating magnetic and non-magnetic substances through differential magnetism. This is particularly useful for recycling tailings containing iron minerals. By introducing a magnetic separation device into phosphate tailings, iron minerals can be separated from other minerals.

First, ensure that the phosphate ore tailings are refined for better magnetic separation. Select appropriate magnetic separation equipment. Commonly used equipment includes magnetic separators, permanent magnet drum magnetic separators or wet high-intensity magnetic separators, which are capable of generating magnetic fields strong enough to separate magnetic and non-magnetic materials. When sorting, it is necessary to set the magnetic field strength, rotation speed and feeding speed of the equipment according to the properties of the tailings and the characteristics of the magnetic materials to avoid affecting the separation efficiency.

c. Flotation separation

Flotation is a widely used ore processing method that uses air bubbles to float valuable minerals to the surface of a liquid, where they are then collected.

In phosphate ore tailings treatment, flotation can be used to separate phosphate minerals. Usually, the flotation process requires the addition of chemicals to enhance the separation effect. Flotation agents used in phosphate ore tailings treatment usually include collectors, frothers and modifiers. Proper selection and dosing of these agents is critical for efficient treatment of phosphate ore tailings.