Coarse silica flotation from intermediate pebble product in a dual extraction column.

Coarse silica flotation from intermediate pebble product has been carried out in a pilot-plant dual extraction column at an operating phosphate mine in central Florida. The solids feed rate ranged from 4.16 to 5.3 tons/hour and the amine dosages ranged from 0.32 to 0.93 lb/ton. The optimum amine dosage when using recycled process water was determined to be 0.6 lb/ton. With a feed containing 40-45 BPL (% bone phosphate of lime) and 38-45% insolubles, the results show that the intermediate pebble product can be upgraded to 56-61 BPL and an insoluble content of 16-22% at 85-90% BPL recovery.The dual extraction column is shown to be an effective device for upgrading the intermediate pebble product prior to blending with the pebble; advantages of such an upgrade are discussed.
Coarse silica flotation from intermediate pebble product has been carried out in a pilot-plant dual extraction column at an operating phosphate mine in central Florida. The solids feed rate ranged from 4.16 to 5.3 tons/hour and the amine dosages ranged from 0.32 to 0.93 lb/ton. The optimum amine dosage when using recycled process water was determined to be 0.6 lb/ton. With a feed containing 40-45 BPL (% bone phosphate of lime) and 38-45% insolubles, the results show that the intermediate pebble product can be upgraded to 56-61 BPL and an insoluble content of 16-22% at 85-90% BPL recovery.The dual extraction column is shown to be an effective device for upgrading the intermediate pebble product prior to blending with the pebble; advantages of such an upgrade are discussed.