Processes for the recovery of fluoride and silica products and phosphoric acid from wet-process phosphoric acid facilities and contaminated waste waters

A process for the simultaneous:

• (i) recovery of a fluoride, a silica and a phosphate contaminant from a sample, and (ii) production of fluosilicic acid (FSA) (H2SiF6), diphosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4), comprising:
• (a) providing a continuous ion exchange system comprising an anion exchange resin to recover the fluoride, silica and phosphate contaminants;
• (b) providing a liquid or an aqueous sample, or making a liquid or aqueous solution from a sample to be processed, wherein the liquid or aqueous solution is an acidic solution;
• (c) applying the liquid or the aqueous sample to the anion exchange resin of the continuous ion exchange system under conditions such that fluoride, silica and phosphate contaminants remain on the anion exchange resin to produce an effluent substantially free of fluoride, silica and phosphate contaminants, thereby removing fluoride, silica and phosphate contaminants;
• and
• (d) washing of the anion exchange resin with water, followed by regenerating the anion exchange resin with a sulfuric acid solution,
• wherein regenerating the anion exchange resin with the sulfuric acid solution comprises applying the sulfuric acid solution to the anion exchange resin to regenerate the anion exchange resin and produce an eluate of fluosilicic acid (FSA) (H2SiF6) diphosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) P2O5 , and phosphoric acid (H3PO4),
• wherein the concentration or amount of sulfuric acid applied to the anion exchange resin for the regeneration of the anion exchange resin is in a range of from between about 5% by weight to about 95% by weight.