Flotation of insoluble slimes from potash ore.

Thompson-P; Huiatt-JL; Seidel-DC

Fall Mtg & Exh Soc Min Eng AIME October 19-21, 1977, St. Louis Missouri. SME Preprint 77-H-389 :1-18

10009676

Laboratory testing by the federal Bureau of Mines showed that the removal of insoluble slimes using selective flocculation and flotation is a viable method for treating low-grade potash ores that have a high content of water-insoluble impurities. Results indicated that up to 85 percent of the insoluble slimes could be removed from sylvinite ore containing 5 percent water insolubles and 13 percent k2o using nonionic or cationic polyacrylamide flocculants and cationic, anionic, and/or nonionic collectors. Subsequent potash flotation recovered up to 88 percent of the potash in rougher concentrates containing 47 to 57 percent k2o. Sizing and cleaner flotation of the rougher concentrates upgraded the products to 60 percent k2o. Filtration of the insoluble slimes flotation concentrates recovered 87 to 90 percent of the brine. Flotation concentrate filtration rates are seven times faster than the filtration rates of mechanically deslimed products.

19771001

OP;

1978

OP 108-77

SLRC;

Fall Mtg. & Exh., Soc. Min. Eng., AIME, St. Louis, Missouri, SME Preprint 77-H-389

MO;