System and method for removing organics from phosphate ore

A process for removing organics from phosphate ores crushed to a particle size of 4.0 mm or less, the process comprising:

• conditioning a phosphate ore with a reagent having an initial pH value to produce a slurry;
• mixing the slurry in an attrition scrubbing device, where the slurry produces a supernatant containing organic material removed from the phosphate ore and sediment containing refined phosphate ore;
• separating the slurry into a first stream of materials and a second stream of smaller materials, the second stream comprising refined phosphate ore, using a screen having a screen size of between approximately 1.0 mm and 0.6 mm to create the first stream of materials that does not pass through the screen and the second stream of smaller materials that passes through the screen;
• grinding the phosphate ore in the first stream producing ground ore;
• mixing the ground ore into the slurry for further conditioning;
• maintaining a pH level in the slurry to a pH range;
• removing the refined phosphate ore from the second stream;
• and
• after removing the refined phosphate ore, treating the second stream to flotation to separate remaining refined phosphate ore from gangue minerals therein.

A method for removing or releasing organics from phosphate ore, where the phosphate ore has been prepared to a size of approximately 4 mm or less, the method comprising:

• mixing the phosphate ore with an alkaline reagent in a slurry comprising the phosphate ore and the alkaline reagent;
• mixing the slurry in an attrition scrubbing device while maintaining a pH level in the slurry to a pH range;
• and
• removing a supernatant containing organic material to produce sediment containing refined phosphate ore;
• and
• using a screen having a screen size of between approximately 1.00 mm and 0.6 mm to separate the slurry to create a first stream of materials and a second stream of smaller materials, the second stream comprising refined ore and the refined ore having a size of approximately 1.0 mm or less;
• and
• stop mixing the slurry after detection in the slurry of a change in viscosity or a change of particle size.