Flotation Selectivity of Phosphate Ore: Effects of Particle Size and Reagent Concentration

Abstract

The flotation selectivity of apatite particles from a carbonatite complex was investigated in a flotation column as a function of particle size and reagent concentrations. Experiments were performed according to a factorial experimental design. Fine and coarse particles showed different sensitivities to variations in the concentration of the reagent. Coarser particles showed a higher selectivity ratio and greater sensitivity to the addition of different reagent dosages, providing a more selective separation and a better quality product. Finer particles presented lower selectivity ratios, reflecting the difficulty involved in the concentration process with this particle size.

Keywords:

• Apatite
• column flotation
• granulometric effect

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank the Brazilian research funding agencies CAPES, CNPq and FAPEMIG for their financial support of this work and the company Vale Fertilizantes for its technical support.

Notes

Ref*- see numbers in Fig. 2.

^a Rare earth elements (La₂O₃, Ce₂O₃, Nd₂O₃ e Pr₂O₃).