712 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
Rigaku, Japan) was employed. To determine the mineral-
ogical composition, X-ray diffraction (XRD) was employed
with a Bruker-AXS D8 powder diffractometer (U.S.A),
using Cu Kα radiation (λKα =1.54186 Å) within the 5°
to 80° range. The mineralogical composition was identi-
fied through the reconciliation method, comparing the
results of chemical analysis with mineralogical identifica-
tion performed using High Score Plus software (Derhy et
al., 2024). Electrokinetic measurements were performed
with a Malvern ZetaSizer Nano ZS90 instrument (U.K),
equipped with a microprocessor unit allowing of directly
measuring the average zeta potential and its standard devia-
tion (Derhy et al., 2022) derived from the electrophoretic
mobility (based on three measurements). pH measure-
ments were acquired using a pH Meter (Hanna Edge pH
Meter HI11310).
Experimental Set-Up
Flocculation and sedimentation experiments were per-
formed employing a Velp JLT6 jar test equipped with
speed control. In each trial, a 500 ml slurry of FPTs with
a concentration of 80 g/L (67.61% wt) was prepared and
agitated for 120 minutes at 200 rpm within a 600 cm3 glass
jar. This methodology guaranteed complete dispersion,
yielding a homogeneous slurry that faithfully replicated the
composition of the feed entering the industrial thickener at
the processing plant. The properties of the fine phosphate
tailings slurry employed in the flocculation experiments are
as follows: pH 8.6, solid content of 7.61% and pulp density
of 1.05.
Flocculation conditions were established based on pre-
liminary tests and subsequently fixed. The optimal condi-
tions, determined through mixing at 120 rpm for 2 minutes,
yielded satisfactory values for water recovery, water quality,
and settling rate. The flocculant dose was set at 60 g/tds
(gram per ton of dry solids) of flocculants. During the mix-
ing process, the desired amount of polymer solution was
continuously introduced into the FPTs slurry. The suspen-
sion’s mixing was stopped after 2 minutes. The height of
the slurry and water interface was systematically recorded
Table 1. Characteristics of the tested flocculants
Commercial Name Type Molecular Weight Charge Density (%)Effective pH Range Supplier
Magnafloc 345 Anionic Ultra high (15M g/mol) High (50%) 4–9* BASF
Magnafloc 5250 Anionic High (10–15 M g/mol) Medium (10 – 40%) 4–9* BASF
Magnafloc 504 Cationic Medium (6–10M g/mol) High (40 – 80%) 4–9* BASF
Zetag 8167 Cationic Ultra high (15M g/mol) High (60%) 4–9* Solenis
*Values taken from the manufacturer
Figure 1. Methodology applied in this study
Rigaku, Japan) was employed. To determine the mineral-
ogical composition, X-ray diffraction (XRD) was employed
with a Bruker-AXS D8 powder diffractometer (U.S.A),
using Cu Kα radiation (λKα =1.54186 Å) within the 5°
to 80° range. The mineralogical composition was identi-
fied through the reconciliation method, comparing the
results of chemical analysis with mineralogical identifica-
tion performed using High Score Plus software (Derhy et
al., 2024). Electrokinetic measurements were performed
with a Malvern ZetaSizer Nano ZS90 instrument (U.K),
equipped with a microprocessor unit allowing of directly
measuring the average zeta potential and its standard devia-
tion (Derhy et al., 2022) derived from the electrophoretic
mobility (based on three measurements). pH measure-
ments were acquired using a pH Meter (Hanna Edge pH
Meter HI11310).
Experimental Set-Up
Flocculation and sedimentation experiments were per-
formed employing a Velp JLT6 jar test equipped with
speed control. In each trial, a 500 ml slurry of FPTs with
a concentration of 80 g/L (67.61% wt) was prepared and
agitated for 120 minutes at 200 rpm within a 600 cm3 glass
jar. This methodology guaranteed complete dispersion,
yielding a homogeneous slurry that faithfully replicated the
composition of the feed entering the industrial thickener at
the processing plant. The properties of the fine phosphate
tailings slurry employed in the flocculation experiments are
as follows: pH 8.6, solid content of 7.61% and pulp density
of 1.05.
Flocculation conditions were established based on pre-
liminary tests and subsequently fixed. The optimal condi-
tions, determined through mixing at 120 rpm for 2 minutes,
yielded satisfactory values for water recovery, water quality,
and settling rate. The flocculant dose was set at 60 g/tds
(gram per ton of dry solids) of flocculants. During the mix-
ing process, the desired amount of polymer solution was
continuously introduced into the FPTs slurry. The suspen-
sion’s mixing was stopped after 2 minutes. The height of
the slurry and water interface was systematically recorded
Table 1. Characteristics of the tested flocculants
Commercial Name Type Molecular Weight Charge Density (%)Effective pH Range Supplier
Magnafloc 345 Anionic Ultra high (15M g/mol) High (50%) 4–9* BASF
Magnafloc 5250 Anionic High (10–15 M g/mol) Medium (10 – 40%) 4–9* BASF
Magnafloc 504 Cationic Medium (6–10M g/mol) High (40 – 80%) 4–9* BASF
Zetag 8167 Cationic Ultra high (15M g/mol) High (60%) 4–9* Solenis
*Values taken from the manufacturer
Figure 1. Methodology applied in this study