The studies were performed suggesting that the
cause of P2O5 losses during apatite-staffelite ores (ASO)
treatment are due to non-selective flocculation of fine
classes during flotation. When using strong flocculants,
special preparation of condensed slurries is necessary,
ensuring their deflocculation before the flotation process.
A scheme and mode of preparation of fine classes for the
flotation process have been developed, including thickening
of the classification overflows using strong anionic
flocculants and deflocculation of the thickened product
before the flotation process with reagents-dispersants
used in the basic flotation mode. A mode of preparation
of slimes of ASO ores for flotation is proposed, including
thickening of the discharge of the classification
operation using the anionic flocculant “Praestol-2540”,
conditioning of the condensed product with additions of
liquid glass and caustic soda in a ratio of 1 : 1, dilution
and re-thickening of deflocculated slimes, consolidation
and flotation thickened sludge and sand. The big laboratory
tests have shown that the application of the developed
regime provides a total increase in the extraction
of P2O5 from ore from 70,1 to 71,5 % with an increase
in the P2O5 content in apatite concentrate from 37,1 to
37,8 %, which makes the developed technology promising
for processing refractory ASO at Kovdorsky GOK.
