XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 2303
quartz minerals. This was achieved through zeta potential
measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
and adsorption experiments. Finally, flotation tests involv-
ing real ore mixture were conducted aiming to evaluate the
separation efficiency of apatite from quartz using the fatty
acid-based collectors.
Raw Materials
Pure Minerals
Apatite and quartz crystals were locally collected. They were
subjected to mechanical preparation consisting of crushing,
grinding, and sieving to attain a size fraction of –10µm for
zeta potential measurements, 45–20 µm for Fourier trans-
form infrared spectroscopy analysis, and 160–40µm for
adsorption experiments. The pure minerals were subjected
to X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF)
analyses to confirm their purity and identify their chemical
composition, respectively. XRD analysis was carried out at
ambient temperature using a D2 Phaser Bruker diffractom-
eter. The identification of mineral phases was done using
HighScore software. The X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis
was performed using the RIGAKU ZSX Primus IV spec-
trometer, which has a detection limit of 0.01 (wt.%).
Phosphate Sample
The open-pit mining process employed to extract the sedi-
mentary phosphate ore from the Ben Guerir deposit in
Morocco yields significant amounts of phosphate mine
waste rock (PMWRs). These waste materials are divided
into screening (30–90mm) and destoning (90mm) piles.
Following the sampling procedure outlined in (Amar et
al., 2023), manual sorting identified the predominant
components in the PMWR screening piles as 30% indu-
rated phosphate, flintstone, phosphated flint, 20% silicious
marls, 14% dolomitic limestone, 5% silexite, 2% tender
marls, and some clays (el Mahdi Safhi et al., 2022). For this
study, phosphated flint (PF) was selected as the raw mate-
rial for separating the apatite fraction from its gangue. The
sorted PF sample was crushed to achieve a grain size below
10 mm, followed by grinding and wet sieving to eliminate
fine particles (40 µm) and to collect samples with grain
sizes of 160–40 µm. To achieve homogenized flotation feeds,
these samples underwent quartering using a rotary divisor.
Representative samples were obtained from each feed to
assess the particle size distribution and to conduct chemical
and mineralogical characterization. These analyses consist
of XRF analysis was performed utilizing a RIGAKU ZSX
Primus IV spectrometer with a 0.01w.t% detection limit.
Automated mineralogical characterization was conducted
to quantify the modal mineralogy, liberation of minerals,
and association of minerals of the studied phosphated flint
sample. The evaluation of flotation performance is greatly
dependent on these parameters, as they serve as an essen-
tial component in determining whether the desired mineral
fraction is completely released (liberated) or encapsulated
within other mineral fractions (Elghali et al., 2018). Thus,
the selection of reagents and the enhancement of recovery
can be efficiently enabled. The analysis was performed uti-
lizing a Tescan Integrated Mineral Analyzer (TIMA) that
was outfitted with two EDAX Element detectors measuring
30 mm2 in diameter. The samples were prepared as pol-
ished sections measuring 30 mm in diameter. Data acquisi-
tion was conducted using a high-resolution mapping mode,
adhering to the following conditions: a working distance of
15 mm, an acceleration voltage of 25 kV, a beam current of
9 nA, and a pixel size of 2 μm.
Flotation Reagents
Fatty acid collectors (FACs) are anionic collectors typically
destined for calcium bearing minerals. Since they don’t
interact with quartz surfaces especially in the absence of
any source of activation, they have been chosen to be stud-
ied in a phosphated flint system containing predominantly
apatite and quartz fractions. In this study, frying oil collec-
tor (FrOC), mustard oil collector (MOC), and Ricinus oil
collector (ROC) have been chosen to separate the apatite
fraction from its gangue. All the studied collectors have
been prepared in the laboratory though a saponification
reaction. This process requires mixing an amount of the
oil sample with concentrated NaOH solution in ethanolic
medium. The reaction was conducted under reflux heat-
ing for 45 minutes. After cooling, the reaction product
was precipitated in saturated solution of NaCl. The solid
fraction was filtered, washed to eliminate the alkali traces,
dried, grounded to fine powder, and preserved for further
analyses and tests. Other reagents such as NaOH, HCl,
KCl were purchased from Sigma Aldrich and they all were
of high purity.
Adsorption Assessment
The primary objective of this fundamental investigation
is to analyze and describe the interaction between mineral
surfaces and fatty acid collectors using specific techniques.
Zeta potential measurements are employed to evalu-
ate the electrostatic interactions occurring at the surfaces of
minerals, providing valuable information on surface charge
and the adsorption of collectors. Mineral particles’ zeta
potential was measured before and after in the aim of pre-
dicting the different interactions between the studied min-
eral samples and the collectors. For this purpose, a 0.01%
quartz minerals. This was achieved through zeta potential
measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
and adsorption experiments. Finally, flotation tests involv-
ing real ore mixture were conducted aiming to evaluate the
separation efficiency of apatite from quartz using the fatty
acid-based collectors.
Raw Materials
Pure Minerals
Apatite and quartz crystals were locally collected. They were
subjected to mechanical preparation consisting of crushing,
grinding, and sieving to attain a size fraction of –10µm for
zeta potential measurements, 45–20 µm for Fourier trans-
form infrared spectroscopy analysis, and 160–40µm for
adsorption experiments. The pure minerals were subjected
to X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF)
analyses to confirm their purity and identify their chemical
composition, respectively. XRD analysis was carried out at
ambient temperature using a D2 Phaser Bruker diffractom-
eter. The identification of mineral phases was done using
HighScore software. The X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis
was performed using the RIGAKU ZSX Primus IV spec-
trometer, which has a detection limit of 0.01 (wt.%).
Phosphate Sample
The open-pit mining process employed to extract the sedi-
mentary phosphate ore from the Ben Guerir deposit in
Morocco yields significant amounts of phosphate mine
waste rock (PMWRs). These waste materials are divided
into screening (30–90mm) and destoning (90mm) piles.
Following the sampling procedure outlined in (Amar et
al., 2023), manual sorting identified the predominant
components in the PMWR screening piles as 30% indu-
rated phosphate, flintstone, phosphated flint, 20% silicious
marls, 14% dolomitic limestone, 5% silexite, 2% tender
marls, and some clays (el Mahdi Safhi et al., 2022). For this
study, phosphated flint (PF) was selected as the raw mate-
rial for separating the apatite fraction from its gangue. The
sorted PF sample was crushed to achieve a grain size below
10 mm, followed by grinding and wet sieving to eliminate
fine particles (40 µm) and to collect samples with grain
sizes of 160–40 µm. To achieve homogenized flotation feeds,
these samples underwent quartering using a rotary divisor.
Representative samples were obtained from each feed to
assess the particle size distribution and to conduct chemical
and mineralogical characterization. These analyses consist
of XRF analysis was performed utilizing a RIGAKU ZSX
Primus IV spectrometer with a 0.01w.t% detection limit.
Automated mineralogical characterization was conducted
to quantify the modal mineralogy, liberation of minerals,
and association of minerals of the studied phosphated flint
sample. The evaluation of flotation performance is greatly
dependent on these parameters, as they serve as an essen-
tial component in determining whether the desired mineral
fraction is completely released (liberated) or encapsulated
within other mineral fractions (Elghali et al., 2018). Thus,
the selection of reagents and the enhancement of recovery
can be efficiently enabled. The analysis was performed uti-
lizing a Tescan Integrated Mineral Analyzer (TIMA) that
was outfitted with two EDAX Element detectors measuring
30 mm2 in diameter. The samples were prepared as pol-
ished sections measuring 30 mm in diameter. Data acquisi-
tion was conducted using a high-resolution mapping mode,
adhering to the following conditions: a working distance of
15 mm, an acceleration voltage of 25 kV, a beam current of
9 nA, and a pixel size of 2 μm.
Flotation Reagents
Fatty acid collectors (FACs) are anionic collectors typically
destined for calcium bearing minerals. Since they don’t
interact with quartz surfaces especially in the absence of
any source of activation, they have been chosen to be stud-
ied in a phosphated flint system containing predominantly
apatite and quartz fractions. In this study, frying oil collec-
tor (FrOC), mustard oil collector (MOC), and Ricinus oil
collector (ROC) have been chosen to separate the apatite
fraction from its gangue. All the studied collectors have
been prepared in the laboratory though a saponification
reaction. This process requires mixing an amount of the
oil sample with concentrated NaOH solution in ethanolic
medium. The reaction was conducted under reflux heat-
ing for 45 minutes. After cooling, the reaction product
was precipitated in saturated solution of NaCl. The solid
fraction was filtered, washed to eliminate the alkali traces,
dried, grounded to fine powder, and preserved for further
analyses and tests. Other reagents such as NaOH, HCl,
KCl were purchased from Sigma Aldrich and they all were
of high purity.
Adsorption Assessment
The primary objective of this fundamental investigation
is to analyze and describe the interaction between mineral
surfaces and fatty acid collectors using specific techniques.
Zeta potential measurements are employed to evalu-
ate the electrostatic interactions occurring at the surfaces of
minerals, providing valuable information on surface charge
and the adsorption of collectors. Mineral particles’ zeta
potential was measured before and after in the aim of pre-
dicting the different interactions between the studied min-
eral samples and the collectors. For this purpose, a 0.01%