Abstract
Pilot tests and the preliminary economic analysis conducted by IMC, CLDRI and Jacobs demonstrated the technical and economic feasibility of the CLDRI fine flotation technology for processing Florida high dolomitic phosphate pebbles (FIPR Project Number: 01-02-150). The PA-31 developed by CLDRI and manufactured in China using Chinese raw materials is one of the keys to the CLDRI fine flotation technology for successfully processing Florida high dolomitic phosphate pebbles. It is very important to optimize the formulation of the PA-31 substitutes manufactured using all U.S. made materials for the application and promotion of the CLDRI fine flotation technology in the Florida phosphate industry. This research project is co-funded by FIPR and IMC to optimize the formulation of the dolomite collector using all raw materials available in the U.S.
The tests carried out in CLDRI’s lab demonstrated that some fatty acids and surfactants from U.S. can be used for manufacturing the dolomite collectors as the PA-31 substitutes to process Florida high dolomitic phosphate pebbles with better separation efficiency than PA-31.
Two large batch dolomite collectors were produced by two Florida local reagent suppliers according to the CLDRI’s recommended formulation and procedure for large scale production. The verification tests carried out at FIPR’s lab demonstrated that the performances of the U.S. dolomite collectors were as good as or better than PA-31.
The dolomite collectors manufactured in Florida have the advantages of good selectivity, improved flotation efficiency of coarse particles, and low cost.
Gao Zhizhong, Zheng Shibo, and Xu Qin - Lianyungang Design and Research Institute (CLDRI); Chaucer L. Hwang and Charles Guan - IMC Phosphates MP Inc.