XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 2313
highlighting the importance of optimizing pH conditions
to improve apatite recovery.
CONCLUSION
The aim of this study was to recover residual phosphate in
mine waste rocks using eco-friendly flotation collectors.
The studied ore, consisting of phosphated flint with car-
bonated fluorapatite and quartz as the main mineral phases,
was evaluated using fatty acid collectors. These collectors
are known for their selectivity towards the apatite frac-
tion and minimal interaction with quartz. To confirm this
adsorption behavior, a fundamental study involving zeta
potential measurements, FTIR spectroscopy, and adsorp-
tion quantification experiments was conducted. These
studies confirmed the primary hypothesis. Flotation tests
on phosphated flint samples demonstrated potential and
promising applicability, with FrOC and MOC achieving
over 74% and 57% apatite grade, and 45% and 50% recov-
eries, respectively, at optimal pH levels. ROC exhibited the
weakest recoveries but yielded good quality concentrates.
This preliminary study paves the way for optimization
tests using a design of experiment approach to determine
the best conditions for maximum recoveries and grades.
Further automated mineralogical analysis will be con-
ducted to assess the floated quartz fraction and establish
mineral associations and to develop improved grinding
strategies. To provide a more comprehensive evaluation of
the flotation results, the study will include measurements
of entrainment recovery to assess the extent of fine particle
entrainment specifically focusing on quartz.
REFERENCES
Amar, H., Benzaazoua, M., Elghali, A., Taha, Y., El Ghorfi,
M., Krause, A., Hakkou, R., 2023. Mine waste rock
reprocessing using sensor-based sorting (SBS): Novel
approach toward circular economy in phosphate min-
ing. Miner. Eng. 204, 108415.
Cao, Q., Cheng, J., Wen, S., Li, C., Bai, S., Liu, D., 2015.
A mixed collector system for phosphate flotation.
Miner. Eng. 78, 114–121.
de Oliveira, P., Mansur, H., Mansur, A., da Silva, G., Peres,
A.E.C., 2019. Apatite flotation using pataua palm tree
oil as collector. J. Mater. Res. Technol. 8, 4612–4619.
Derhy, M., Taha, Y., Benzaazoua, M., El-Bahi, A., Ait-
Khouia, Y., Hakkou, R., 2022. Assessment of the
selective flotation of calcite, apatite and quartz
using bio-based collectors: Flaxseed, nigella, and
olive oils. Miner. Eng. 182, 107589. doi: 10.1016/j.
mineng.2022.107589
Derhy, M., Taha, Y., El-Bahi, A., Ait-khouia, Y., Benzaazoua,
M., Hakkou, R., 2024. Selective flotation of calcite
and dolomite from apatite using bio-based alternatives
to conventional collectors: castor and mustard oils.
Miner. Eng. 208. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2024.108597
El-bahi, A., Taha, Y., Ait-Khouia, Y., Elghali, A., Benzaazoua,
M., 2024. Enhancing sustainability in phosphate ore
processing: Performance of frying oil as alternative flo-
tation collector for carbonate removal. Int. J. Min. Sci.
Technol. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2024.04.003
El-Bahi, A., Taha, Y., Ait-Khouia, Y., Hakkou, R.,
Benzaazoua, M., 2023. Advancing phosphate ore min-
erals separation with sustainable flotation reagents: An
investigation into highly selective biobased depressants.
Adv. Colloid Interface Sci. 102921. doi: 10.1016/j.
cis.2023.102921
El Bamiki, R., Raji, O., Ouabid, M., Elghali, A., Khadiri
Yazami, O., Bodinier, J.-L., 2021. Phosphate rocks:
A review of sedimentary and igneous occurrences in
Morocco. Minerals 11, 1137.
El Machi, A, Mabroum, S., Taha, Y., Tagnit-Hamou, A.,
Benzaazoua, M., Hakkou, R., 2021. Valorization of
phosphate mine waste rocks as aggregates for concrete.
Mater. Today Proc. 37, 3840–3846. doi: 10.1016/j.
matpr.2020.08.404
El Machi, Aiman, Mabroum, S., Taha, Y., Tagnit-Hamou,
A., Benzaazoua, M., Hakkou, R., 2021. Use of flint
from phosphate mine waste rocks as an alternative
aggregates for concrete. Constr. Build. Mater. 271,
121886.
el Mahdi Safhi, A., Amar, H., El Berdai, Y., El Ghorfi, M.,
Taha, Y., Hakkou, R., Al-Dahhan, M., Benzaazoua,
M., 2022. Characterizations and potential recovery
pathways of phosphate mines waste rocks. J. Clean.
Prod. 374, 134034.
Elghali, A., Benzaazoua, M., Bouzahzah, H., Bussière, B.,
Villarraga-Gómez, H., 2018. Determination of the
available acid-generating potential of waste rock, part
I: Mineralogical approach. Appl. Geochemistry 99,
31–41. doi: 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2018.10.021
Foucaud, Y., Lainé, J., Filippov, L.O., Barrès, O., Kim,
W.J., Filippova, I. V, Pastore, M., Lebègue, S., Badawi,
M., 2021. Adsorption mechanisms of fatty acids on
fluorite unraveled by infrared spectroscopy and first-
principles calculations. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 583,
692–703. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.09.062
Gaudin, A.M., 1957. Flotation, Mc Grow Hill Book Co.
Inc., New York.
highlighting the importance of optimizing pH conditions
to improve apatite recovery.
CONCLUSION
The aim of this study was to recover residual phosphate in
mine waste rocks using eco-friendly flotation collectors.
The studied ore, consisting of phosphated flint with car-
bonated fluorapatite and quartz as the main mineral phases,
was evaluated using fatty acid collectors. These collectors
are known for their selectivity towards the apatite frac-
tion and minimal interaction with quartz. To confirm this
adsorption behavior, a fundamental study involving zeta
potential measurements, FTIR spectroscopy, and adsorp-
tion quantification experiments was conducted. These
studies confirmed the primary hypothesis. Flotation tests
on phosphated flint samples demonstrated potential and
promising applicability, with FrOC and MOC achieving
over 74% and 57% apatite grade, and 45% and 50% recov-
eries, respectively, at optimal pH levels. ROC exhibited the
weakest recoveries but yielded good quality concentrates.
This preliminary study paves the way for optimization
tests using a design of experiment approach to determine
the best conditions for maximum recoveries and grades.
Further automated mineralogical analysis will be con-
ducted to assess the floated quartz fraction and establish
mineral associations and to develop improved grinding
strategies. To provide a more comprehensive evaluation of
the flotation results, the study will include measurements
of entrainment recovery to assess the extent of fine particle
entrainment specifically focusing on quartz.
REFERENCES
Amar, H., Benzaazoua, M., Elghali, A., Taha, Y., El Ghorfi,
M., Krause, A., Hakkou, R., 2023. Mine waste rock
reprocessing using sensor-based sorting (SBS): Novel
approach toward circular economy in phosphate min-
ing. Miner. Eng. 204, 108415.
Cao, Q., Cheng, J., Wen, S., Li, C., Bai, S., Liu, D., 2015.
A mixed collector system for phosphate flotation.
Miner. Eng. 78, 114–121.
de Oliveira, P., Mansur, H., Mansur, A., da Silva, G., Peres,
A.E.C., 2019. Apatite flotation using pataua palm tree
oil as collector. J. Mater. Res. Technol. 8, 4612–4619.
Derhy, M., Taha, Y., Benzaazoua, M., El-Bahi, A., Ait-
Khouia, Y., Hakkou, R., 2022. Assessment of the
selective flotation of calcite, apatite and quartz
using bio-based collectors: Flaxseed, nigella, and
olive oils. Miner. Eng. 182, 107589. doi: 10.1016/j.
mineng.2022.107589
Derhy, M., Taha, Y., El-Bahi, A., Ait-khouia, Y., Benzaazoua,
M., Hakkou, R., 2024. Selective flotation of calcite
and dolomite from apatite using bio-based alternatives
to conventional collectors: castor and mustard oils.
Miner. Eng. 208. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2024.108597
El-bahi, A., Taha, Y., Ait-Khouia, Y., Elghali, A., Benzaazoua,
M., 2024. Enhancing sustainability in phosphate ore
processing: Performance of frying oil as alternative flo-
tation collector for carbonate removal. Int. J. Min. Sci.
Technol. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2024.04.003
El-Bahi, A., Taha, Y., Ait-Khouia, Y., Hakkou, R.,
Benzaazoua, M., 2023. Advancing phosphate ore min-
erals separation with sustainable flotation reagents: An
investigation into highly selective biobased depressants.
Adv. Colloid Interface Sci. 102921. doi: 10.1016/j.
cis.2023.102921
El Bamiki, R., Raji, O., Ouabid, M., Elghali, A., Khadiri
Yazami, O., Bodinier, J.-L., 2021. Phosphate rocks:
A review of sedimentary and igneous occurrences in
Morocco. Minerals 11, 1137.
El Machi, A, Mabroum, S., Taha, Y., Tagnit-Hamou, A.,
Benzaazoua, M., Hakkou, R., 2021. Valorization of
phosphate mine waste rocks as aggregates for concrete.
Mater. Today Proc. 37, 3840–3846. doi: 10.1016/j.
matpr.2020.08.404
El Machi, Aiman, Mabroum, S., Taha, Y., Tagnit-Hamou,
A., Benzaazoua, M., Hakkou, R., 2021. Use of flint
from phosphate mine waste rocks as an alternative
aggregates for concrete. Constr. Build. Mater. 271,
121886.
el Mahdi Safhi, A., Amar, H., El Berdai, Y., El Ghorfi, M.,
Taha, Y., Hakkou, R., Al-Dahhan, M., Benzaazoua,
M., 2022. Characterizations and potential recovery
pathways of phosphate mines waste rocks. J. Clean.
Prod. 374, 134034.
Elghali, A., Benzaazoua, M., Bouzahzah, H., Bussière, B.,
Villarraga-Gómez, H., 2018. Determination of the
available acid-generating potential of waste rock, part
I: Mineralogical approach. Appl. Geochemistry 99,
31–41. doi: 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2018.10.021
Foucaud, Y., Lainé, J., Filippov, L.O., Barrès, O., Kim,
W.J., Filippova, I. V, Pastore, M., Lebègue, S., Badawi,
M., 2021. Adsorption mechanisms of fatty acids on
fluorite unraveled by infrared spectroscopy and first-
principles calculations. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 583,
692–703. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.09.062
Gaudin, A.M., 1957. Flotation, Mc Grow Hill Book Co.
Inc., New York.