Use of sea water in the flotation of carbonate rich sedimentary phosphate rock

Abstract

There is an appreciable amount of carbonaceous sedimentary phosphate deposits in the northern Africa and the Middle East which are expected to gain importance in the near future because of the depletion of the deposits in Florida. In many of the regions where phosphate deposits are found there is a shortage of fresh water, and sea is not very far. The use of sea water instead of fresh water in flotation of carbonaceous phosphate rock is successfully demonstrated. Thus an appreciable reduction in the operating cost and an ample amount of saving in the fresh water resources of the region is expected. © 1993 Kluwer Academic Publishers.