BASF boosts apatite flotation
BASF told International Mining it has been investing in technology and expertise to provide chemical solutions that enhance the sustainability of mining. In a scenario where the global population is expected to grow by approximately 400 million people by 2030, this translates to a greater need for food to meet global demand. More food means an increase in fertilisers, which naturally leads to greater pressure for the production of #phosphate concentrates.
André Soares Braga, #BASF Technical Consultant & Mining Solutions Lab Leader stated: “Given that new deposits are scarce, there is an imminent need to increase productivity in #apatite #beneficiation plants worldwide. This is where the recovery of lost apatite in #tailings comes into play, considering that the recovery rate in most operations ranges from 60-90%, meaning 10-40% of losses are due to inherent inefficiencies in #flotation for both coarser particles (#flotationtailings) and fines and ultrafines (desliming process).”
Braga adds that flotation of tailings requires overcoming technical limitations, implementing new equipment technologies, and creating new chemical solutions. Within this context, BASF has developed several projects that support mining companies in reducing their losses and maximising the operational yield of beneficiation plants through flotation.
Two projects carried out by BASF in Brazil involve developing new products to float tailings and slimes from local phosphate miners. Samples of flotation tailings and slimes from clients were provided for studies and flotation tests at the BASF #Jacareí Laboratory, and these projects are currently in the testing phase.
Braga: “With the progress of these initiatives and the hard work of the technical team, some results are quite promising and indicate a bright future for tailings flotation. For example, tests conducted with flotation tailings (predominantly coarse apatite) using new BASF solutions and collectors achieved 31.8% P2O5 in the concentrate, illustrating a potential global process yield increase of 11%. In another ore sample, BASF products indicated an 18% increase in total P2O5 recovery. These results reinforce the viable potential of looking at tailings, reaching return levels of 34-44% of what is currently discarded in tailing dams.”
He concludes: “Tailings flotation will be one of the ways to extend the life of a mine, as well as making mineral resource extraction much more sustainable. Within this panorama, it is always very positive to involve all industry segments to expand the potential of deposit utilisation. Count on BASF in this journey, your provider of chemical solutions for more sustainable mining.”
#futureofmining #phosphateflotation #flotationefficiency #miningchemicals
