Beneficiation of Phosphates X

Phosphate mining is one of the world’s largest mining industries in terms of value of production and annual tonnage. However, papers on phosphate mining and mineral processing are usually rare at most of the major mining as well as mineral processing conferences, both locally and internationally. Beneficiation of Phosphates has been established as the only conference of international significance focusing on phosphate mineral processing.

Phosphate ore is not only the source of an essential nutrient (P) for plant growth, but it also contains substantial amounts of elements critical to developing green energy for the future. A new era may well be ahead of the phosphate industry, when rare earth elements for EVs and other green energy technologies become as important as fertilizers. Uranium in phosphate deposits account for 88% of the unconventional U resources, while rare earth elements (REEs) in phosphate deposits represent hundreds of years of current world demand for these vital elements. In recent years, the U.S. Department of Energy and funding agencies worldwide have provided large amounts of funding on recovery of REE from unconventional resources including phosphate. Beneficiation of Phosphates X will devote at least two sessions to comprehensive recovery of P and other values from phosphate ore, such as U, REEs, F, Mg, Th, and I.

Phosphate mining and processing generate two major waste streams, waste clay and phosphogypsum (PG), in huge quantity. These wastes are becoming significant financial and environmental liabilities for the industry and present a public perception problem as well. Championed by the International Fertilizer Association and the Aleff Group, the phosphate community, regulatory agencies and industrial companies are coming together speeding up technology development and commercialization for various uses of PG, and are making a huge impact. Naturally, utilization and treatment of these wastes will be one of the focuses of this conference, with two sessions tentatively scheduled, one on waste reduction and another on waste utilization. Other important issues to be discussed include flotation efficiency, flotation reagents, dolomite separation techniques, reduction of silica content, on-line analysis and process control, novel processing techniques and machinery, and hydrometallurgical processes.

In summary, Beneficiation of Phosphates X will cover the following topics:

Flotation fundamentals and development of new reagents
Physical and bio separation techniques
Beneficiation of carbonaceous phosphates
Separation of silica and silicates from phosphate
Processing of low-grade phosphates
Analysis and process control
Equipment and process development
Advances in phosphoric acid manufacturing
Phosphoric acid purification and uses
Comprehensive recovery of critical and useful elements from phosphate
Phosphogypsum purification and utilization
Sustainable development and the environment.
Conference Organization
Chairs
Patrick Zhang
Florida Industrial Phosphate Research Institute, USA

Co-Chairs
Phong Vo
Ardaman & Associates Inc, USA

Erika Rova
Yara Suomi Oy, Finland

André Carlos Silva
Federal University of Catalão, Brazil

Ewan Wingate
Bechtel Australia, Australia

Ruan Chi
Wuhan Institute of Technology/Hubei Sanxia Laboratory, China

Conference Organizers
Engineering Conference International
FIPR Institute, Florida Polytechnic University
Hubei Three Gorges Laboratory
Wuhan Institute of Technology