Patent US4436616A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4436616A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process for the beneficiation of phosphate ores
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-03-30
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Granted: 1984-03-13
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Expires: 2002-03-30
Abstract
Abstract This invention provides a process for the beneficiation of phosphate ores having a magnesia-rich carbonate-containing gangue and a silica-containing gangue, which process comprises subjecting the phosphate ore particles to controlled attrition to remove at least a portion of the magnesia-rich carbonate-containing gangue; and subjecting the phosphate ore resulting from attrition to a plurality of flotations to remove the remaining magnesia-rich carbonate-containing gangue and the silica-containing gangue and to recover a concentrated phosphate product, the flotations including sequentially a phosphate flotation, a silica flotation and a carbonate flotation. Alternatively, the controlled attrition can be employed after the silica flotation and prior to the carbonate flotation.
Inventors
- 👤 Philippe Dufour
- 👤 Jean-Jacques Predali
- 👤 Guy Ranchin, deceased
- 👤 legal heir by Marc Ranchin
- 👤 legal heir by Genevieve Ranchin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:33
CPC Classifications
B; B03; B03D; B03D1/00; B03D1/02; B03D1/021; B03B; B03B9/00; B03D1/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A process for the beneficiation of phosphate ore containing a magnesia-rich carbonate-containing gangue and a silica-containing gangue comprising: (a) washing and classifying the phosphate ore to form a first fraction comprising primary fines and removing the primary fines from the phosphate ore; (b) subjecting the phosphate ore to controlled attrition during a period of not less than 5 minutes to remove at least a portion of the magnesia-rich carbonate-containing gangue from the phosphate ore particles; (c) separating the particles resulting from (b) into a fine and a coarse fraction; and (d) subjecting the coarse fraction obtained in (c) to a plurality of froth flotations to remove the remaining magnesia-rich carbonate-containing gangue and the silica-containing gangue and to recover a concentrated phosphate product, said froth flotations including a phosphate flotation, a silica flotation and an anionic carbonate flotation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A process for the beneficiation of phosphate ore containing a magnesia-rich carbonate-containing gangue and a silica-containing gangue comprising: (a) washing and classifying the phosphate ore to form a first fraction comprising primary fines and removing the primary fines from the phosphate ore; (b) subjecting the phosphate ore to controlled attrition during a period of not less than 5 minutes to remove at least a portion of the magnesia-rich carbonate-containing gangue from the phosphate ore particles; (c) separating the particles resulting from (b) into a fine and a coarse fraction; and (d) subjecting the coarse fraction obtained in (c) to a plurality of froth flotations to remove the remaining magnesia-rich carbonate-containing gangue and the silica-containing gangue and to recover a concentrated phosphate product, said froth flotations including a phosphate flotation, a silica flotation and an anionic carbonate flotation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The process of claim 1 wherein step (b) is conducted so that the ratio d 80 /d 20 increases in the course of successive attrition by at least a factor of 1.05, d 80 and d 20 being the smallest mesh size through which 80% and 20%, respectively, of the particles will pass.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The process of claim 2 wherein step (b) is carried out by stirring in a tank a pulp containing from about 60% to 80% by weight of the ore with an agitator means so that the relative speed of any two ore particles in the pulp is less than 5 m/sec.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the attrition is conducted for such a period that the mean residence time of the pulp in the tank is from 5 to 60 minutes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the rotational speed of the agitator means is so adjusted that the pulp passes from 1000 to 10,000 times per hour therethrough.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 5 wherein the pulp passes from 2000 to 5000 times per hour through the agitator means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the rotational speed of the agitator means is so adjusted that the speed of the pulp while passing through the agitator means is from about 0.9 to 2.4 m/sec.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The process of claim 1, wherein step (d) comprises: (1) subjecting the coarse fraction to a first froth flotation step to separate phosphate particles from the gangue material; (2) subjecting the phosphate particles obtained in (1) to a second flotation step to remove residual silica; and (3) subjecting the phosphate particles obtained in (2) to a third anionic flotation step to remove the carbonate material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the first froth flotation step comprises conditioning the particles at a solids concentration of about 70% by weight, and a pH ranging from 9.0 to 10.0, for a period of 2 minutes and adding a collector comprising an aqueous emulsion of tall oil, domestic fuel, and soda; and separating the phosphates by froth flotation at a solids concentration ranging from 18 to 22% by weight, a pH of from 8.5 to 9.5, and for a period of from about 30 to 60 seconds.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the second froth flotation step comprises flotation with an emulsion of an amine and kerosene at a pH of 7, a solids concentration ranging from about 18% to 20% by weight, and for a period of 2 minutes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the third froth flotation step comprises conditioning the particles with an aqueous emulsion of tall oil, domestic fuel, and soda for a period of 4 minutes, and separating the carbonates by flotation at a solids concentration ranging from about 8 to 22% by weight, a pH ranging from 4.5 to 6, and for a period of from 2 to 5 minutes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the pH is maintained by adding phosphoric acid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
124 words
A process for the beneficiation of phosphate ore containing a gangue containing carbonates and silica comprising: (a) subjecting the phosphate ore to a first froth flotation step to separate the phosphate from the gangue; (b) subjecting the phosphate concentrate obtained in (a) to a second froth flotation step to remove residual silica-containing gangue material; (c) subjecting the phosphate concentrate obtained in (b) to controlled attrition to remove at least a portion of the magnesia-rich carbonate-containing gangue from the phosphate ore particles; (d) separating the particles resulting from (c) into a fine and a course fraction; and (e) subjecting the coarse fraction obtained in (d) to a third anionic froth flotation step to remove the carbonate containing gangue and to recover a concentrated phosphate product.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
124 words
A process for the beneficiation of phosphate ore containing a gangue containing carbonates and silica comprising: (a) subjecting the phosphate ore to a first froth flotation step to separate the phosphate from the gangue; (b) subjecting the phosphate concentrate obtained in (a) to a second froth flotation step to remove residual silica-containing gangue material; (c) subjecting the phosphate concentrate obtained in (b) to controlled attrition to remove at least a portion of the magnesia-rich carbonate-containing gangue from the phosphate ore particles; (d) separating the particles resulting from (c) into a fine and a course fraction; and (e) subjecting the coarse fraction obtained in (d) to a third anionic froth flotation step to remove the carbonate containing gangue and to recover a concentrated phosphate product.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
The process of claim 13 wherein step (c) is conducted so that the ratio d 80 /d 20 increases in the course of successive attrition by at least a factor of 1.05, d 80 and d 20 being the smallest mesh size through which 80% and 20%, respectively, of the particles will pass.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
87 words
The process of claim 14 wherein the first froth flotation step comprises conditioning the particles at a solids concentration of 70% by weight, and a pH ranging from 9.0 to 10.0, for a period of 2 minutes and adding a collector comprising an aqueous emulsion of tall oil, domestic fuel and soda, and separating the phosphates by froth flotation at a solids concentration ranging from 18 to 22% by weight, a pH of from 8.5 to 9.5, and for a period ranging from 30 to 60 seconds.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process of claim 14 wherein the second froth flotation step comprises flotation with an emulsion of an amine and kerosene at a pH of 7, a solids concentration ranging from 18 to 22% by weight, and for a period of 2 minutes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
The process of claim 14 wherein the attrition of step (c) is carried out by stirring in a tank a pulp containing 60 to 80% by weight of the ore, with an agitator means, so that the relative speed of any two ore particles in the pulp is less than 5 m/sec.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 17 wherein the attrition is conducted over such a period that the mean residence time of the pulp in the tank is from 20 to 60 minutes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 17 wherein the rotational speed of the agitator means is calculated in such a way that the pulp passes 1,000 to 10,000 times per hour therethrough.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 19 wherein the pulp passes 2,000 to 5,000 times per hour through the agitator means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process of claim 17 wherein the rotational speed of the agitator means is calculated in such a way that the speed of the pulp while passing through the agitator means is 0.9 to 2.4 m/sec.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
65 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the third froth flotation step comprises conditioning the particles with an aqueous emulsion of tall oil, domestic fuel, and soda for a period of 4 minutes, and separating the carbonate by flotation at a solids concentration of 18 to 22% by weight, a pH of from about 4.5 to 6, and for a period of 2 to 5 minutes.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 22 wherein the pH is maintained by adding phosphoric acid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
158 words
A process for the beneficiation of phosphate ore containing a magnesia-rich carbonate-containing gangue and a silica-containing gangue comprising: (a) washing and classifying the phosphate ore to form a first fraction comprising primary fines and a fourth fraction a portion of which comprises coarse grains and removing the primary fines and the portion of the fourth fraction comprising coarse grains from the phosphate ore; (b) subjecting the phosphate ore to controlled attrition during a period of not less than 5 minutes to remove at least a portion of the magnesia-rich carbonate-containing gangue from the phosphate ore particles; (c) separating the particles resulting from (b) into a fine and a coarse fraction; and (d) subjecting the coarse fraction obtained in (c) to a plurality of froth flotations to remove the remaining magnesia-rich carbonate-containing gangue and the silica-containing gangue and to recover a concentrate phosphate product, said froth flotations including a phosphate flotation, a silica flotation and an anionic carbonate fraction.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
158 words
A process for the beneficiation of phosphate ore containing a magnesia-rich carbonate-containing gangue and a silica-containing gangue comprising: (a) washing and classifying the phosphate ore to form a first fraction comprising primary fines and a fourth fraction a portion of which comprises coarse grains and removing the primary fines and the portion of the fourth fraction comprising coarse grains from the phosphate ore; (b) subjecting the phosphate ore to controlled attrition during a period of not less than 5 minutes to remove at least a portion of the magnesia-rich carbonate-containing gangue from the phosphate ore particles; (c) separating the particles resulting from (b) into a fine and a coarse fraction; and (d) subjecting the coarse fraction obtained in (c) to a plurality of froth flotations to remove the remaining magnesia-rich carbonate-containing gangue and the silica-containing gangue and to recover a concentrate phosphate product, said froth flotations including a phosphate flotation, a silica flotation and an anionic carbonate fraction.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 24 wherein the phosphate ore subjected to controlled attrition comprises a second fraction and a third fraction having particle diameters within the range from about 100 to 1,000 microns.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 24 wherein the primary fines have a particle diameter of less than about 100 microns.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process of claim 24 wherein the portion of the fourth fraction remaining after the removal of the coarse grains is ground so that d 80 ranges from about 250 to 500 microns and is then subjected to controlled attrition.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 24 wherein the portion of the fourth fraction comprising coarse grains is the portion retained on an about 3 mesh screen.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-03-13 | 1987-09-12 | 1988-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-03-13 | 1991-09-12 | 1992-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-03-13 | 1995-09-12 | 1996-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |