Study of the effect of pH, conditioning and flotation time on the flotation efficiency of phosphate ores by a soybean oil collector

The mid-low grade of phosphate ore, rich by the silicate and carbonate gangue minerals needs a special treatment using flotation process. Where collectors play pivotal role. This study was conducted to enrich an untreated ore (without washing, desliming, hydrocycling, etc.), with eco-friendly economic collector based on soybean oil. Different analytical techniques such as UV-Visible, ATR-FTIR spectrometric XRD were used in order analyse characterize products. effects parameters, pulp pH, conditioning time removal efficiency flotation, investigated. Flotation tests applied for granulometric class (90 mm 125 µm). Consequently, good quality concentrate obtained acidic medium (pH = 4.05) 1 g oil soap collector, 20 min time, 10 0.17 L×min-1 air superficial velocity, 800 rpm at 25℃ 6% solid content. contained 29.0% phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5), recovery 94.5% from feed sample containing about 24.5% P2O5.