TITLE:
Jebel Kurun Phosphate Rock Characteristics and Technical Viability to Produce Phosphoric Acid
AUTHORS:
Mohamed E. Elmahdi, Kamil M. Wagialla
KEYWORDS:
Phosphate Rock, Jebel Kurun, Phosphoric Acid Production, Technical Viability, Statistical Analysis
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering,
Vol.6 No.5,
September
30,
2018
ABSTRACT: The technical viability for utilizing Jebel Kurun phosphate reserve in Sudan for the production of a fertilizer grade phosphoric acid is assessed. Statistical analysis has been carried for 56 samples. Phosphate rock has been classified into three main types and then the number of samples representing each type has been identified. Average values for phosphorus pentoxide is 19% and for uranium is 81.47 ppm. The most abundant elements are silicon, aluminum, phosphorus, calcium and iron. Aluminophosphate ore (CaO% ≤ 12%, Al2O3% ≥ 20%, P2O5% ≥ 18%) is represented by 55.36% of sampled phosphate rock. This type can be used to produce phosphoric acid when P2O5 > 30%. Apatite rock including aluminophosphate CaO% ≥ 25%, Al2O3% ≤ 10%, P2O5% ≥ 20%, 12% ≤ SiO2 ≤ 35% is represented by 1.79% of sampled phosphate rock, this type can be used to produce phosphoric acid when it can meet the requirements of (CaO% ≥ 30%, Al2O3% ≤ 7%, P2O5% ≥ 25%, SiO2% ≤ 30%). Silica ore including phosphorus (SiO2% ≥ 40%, P2O5% ≤ 10%) is represented by 16.07% of sampled phosphate rock and Iron ore including phosphorus (Fe2O3% ≥ 20%, P2O5% ≤ 10%) is represented by 5.36% of samples. Both types cannot be used to produce phosphoric acid. The statistical distribution of P2O5 in the size fractions for a core drilled samples is required.