SELECTIVE REMOVAL OF CARBONATE MINERALS FROM PHOSPHATE ORE BY CALCINATION-SUCROSE LEACHING PROCESS

Phosphate ore is one of the most critical raw materials for all living things (plant, animal, and human), according to the European Commission report which explains the importance of economical and supply risk of raw materials. Therefore, the evaluation of low-grade phosphate ore is of vital importance. In this study, the selective removal of carbonate minerals (calcite and aragonite) from phosphate ore was investigated by using calcination-sucrose leaching processes. The sample used in this study was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Termogravimetric (TG), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy, respectively. The effect of calcination temperature (750, 850 and 900 ？C) and calcination duration time (15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min) were examined. Leaching tests were performed with various sucrose concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.50, 1, 1.50, 2 M) at different stirring speed (0, 150, 300, 450 rpm) during several times (15, 30, 60, 120, 180 and 240 min). As a result, the selective removal of carbonate minerals from phosphate rock was provided although unwanted CaSiO3 mineral was formed during the calcination process due to its high quartz content