Pilot-plant evaluation of amine flotation of rougher phosphate concentrate in a column cell

In the Florida phosphate industry, a two-stage flotation process is employed for the recovery of phosphate mineral value. In both stages, conventional flotation cells are commonly used. In the present study, the authors evaluated the efficacy of using column flotation in the amine separation of silica from phosphate rougher concentrate. Pilot-plant studies carried out in a 0.45- by 1.2-m dual extraction flotation column (DEC) are presented and compared with plant performance employing conventional flotation cells on both fine and coarse amine feeds.