Phosphate rock is an essential raw material for the production of fertilizers and various industrial products. With the increasing demand for phosphate rock powder in various fields, many investors have been attracted to join the phosphate rock grinding production industry.
How can phosphate rock grinding help you succeed? You must understand the value of phosphate rock, the grinding process, and the equipment.
What is phosphate rock?
Phosphate rock, also known as phosphorite, is a sedimentary rock containing high concentrations of phosphate minerals. The main component of natural phosphate rock is Ca5(PO4)3F.
Here are the physical properties of phosphate rock:
- Element: Phosphate minerals are primarily composed of the elements phosphorus (P), oxygen (O), and other elements such as calcium (Ca), fluorine (F), and chlorine (Cl).
- Color: Phosphate rock ranges in color from light to dark, including brown, green, gray, and black.
- Hardness: Phosphate rock hardness is generally low, and the Mohs hardness is 5-5.5.
- Density: Phosphate rock is generally less dense than metallic minerals, with a range of 1.5-3.5 g/cm³.
- Luster: Phosphate rock luster can be dull to submetallic, depending on the mineral content.
How is phosphate rock formed? It forms through the accumulation of organic remains, such as marine organisms and plants, in ancient oceanic environments.
Over time, these organic materials accumulate on the seafloor, forming organic debris and sediments. Subsequent mineralization into phosphate rock within the sedimentary layer.
Where is phosphate rock found?
The distribution of phosphate rock resources in the world is extremely uneven, and the total global reserves of phosphate rock are about 71 billion metric tons.
Morocco (approximately 50 billion tons) has more than 70% of the phosphate rock reserves, becoming the country with the largest phosphate rock reserves in the world.
Although China ranks second, its absolute reserves are relatively small, with basic reserves of about 3.7 billion tons, accounting for only about 5% of the global total. Followed by Egypt, Algeria, Brazil, South Africa, the United States, etc.
How to grind phosphate rock successfully?
Phosphate rock powder obtained through phosphate rock processing is a valuable raw material. The entire phosphate rock processing process includes crushing, screening, grinding, and collection.
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Phosphate rock crushing
The mined phosphate ore (350-1,200 mm) is conveyed by the vibrating feeder to the jaw crusher for coarse crushing, and then sent to the cone crusher for fine crushing and shaping.
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Phosphate rock screening
After being screened by a vibrating sieve, the phosphate rock meeting the input particle size (15-45 mm) is waiting to be sent to the mill. The phosphate rock that does not meet the particle size is returned to the cone crusher for crushing again.
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Phosphate rock grinding
Phosphate rock in small pieces (<45 mm) is sent to the storage hopper by the elevator, and then evenly sent to the mill room by the feeder for grinding. The ground material is classified by the classification system.
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Phosphate rock collecting
Phosphate rock powder that meets the fineness will enter the dust collector with airflow for separation and collection. The collected finished powder is sent to the finished product silo by the conveying device through the discharge port.
The whole process forms a closed-loop mode, and the powder extraction rate is as high as 90%. The following is the equipment required for phosphate rock grinding:
Want to improve the purity of rock phosphate powder? You can learn about phosphate ore beneficiation methods.
Phosphate rock mill is the key to success
Phosphate rock mills are types of grinding equipment used to process phosphate rock into powder, such as Raymond mill, HGM ultrafine mill, and vertical mill. Each mill has its unique features and advantages for grinding phosphate rock.
1. Raymond mill Get Latest Price
Phosphate Raymond mill is a traditional mill with reliable performance and a simple structure. Raymond mill price is relatively low, and it is suitable for phosphate rock grinding plants with a low budget.
- Product model: Raymond Mill
- Grinding particle size: ≤30 mm
- Grinding moisture: <10%
- Capacity: 0.6-176 t/h
- Finished product size: 0.173-0.044 mm
2. Ultra-fine mill Get Latest Price
Phosphate ultrafine mill, also known as ultrafine micro powder mill, is a new type of mill upgraded based on the Raymond mill. HGM ultrafine mill is suitable for producing fine powder and superfine powder.
- Product model: HGM superfine grinder
- Grinding particle size: <35 mm
- Grinding moisture: <7%
- Capacity: 0.8-25 t/h
- Finished product size: 0.25-0.015 mm
3. Vertical grinding mill Get Latest Price
Phosphate vertical mill is a kind of vertical roller mill. Vertical ultrafine mill is known for its high grinding efficiency and handling of a wide variety of materials, including hard and abrasive substances.
- Product model: HLM ultrafine vertical mill
- Grinding particle size: ≤20 mm
- Grinding moisture: ≤4%
- Capacity: 2-45 t/h
- Finished product size: Screen passing rate of 10-40 μm 97%
FTM Machinery recommends a phosphate rock mill for you:
- If the grinding fineness is not high with a low price, and it is easy to maintain, choose a Raymond mill.
- If the fineness of grinding is high and the output is small, choose an HGM ultra-fine grinding machine.
- If both fine powder and high output are required, choose an HLM vertical mill.
What is phosphate rock powder used for?
Agricultural use
The main use of rock phosphate powder is in agriculture, where it is a key raw material for fertilizer production.
Phosphate rock powder is not only rich in phosphorus, but also contains a variety of trace elements, such as zinc, copper, manganese, and so on. It can meet the needs of plants for these elements, increase the phosphorus content of the soil, and promote the growth and development of plants.
Types of phosphate fertilizers:
- Diammonium Phosphate (DAP): DAP is a widely used granular fertilizer. It provides plants with essential nutrients for optimal growth and development.
- Monammonium Phosphate (MAP): Similar to DAP, MAP is another important fertilizer that contains both phosphorus and nitrogen. It is suitable for crops with high phosphorus requirements.
- Triple Superphosphate (TSP): TSP is produced by reacting phosphate rock with sulfuric acid. It is a high-phosphorus fertilizer, used for crops with limited phosphorus availability in the soil.
Industrial use
Ground phosphate rock powder can be used in various industrial applications.
- Phosphoric acid production: Phosphoric acid is a vital industrial chemical. Phosphate rock powder is treated with sulfuric acid to produce phosphoric acid, which is used in the production of fertilizers, food additives, and more.
- Water treatment: Phosphate rock powder is used in water treatment processes to remove contaminants like heavy metals by forming insoluble precipitates.
- Metallurgy: Phosphate rock serves as a fluxing agent in metallurgical processes, helping to lower the melting point of metals during smelting.
Building materials use
Phosphate rock powder is an important raw material of building materials. It can be used to produce phosphate cement, phosphate glass, phosphate ceramics, and other products.
Phosphate rock powder can be used in the construction industry to improve the properties of concrete and other building materials. Phosphate rock can contribute to the binding and strength of cement mixes.
Conclusion
Phosphate rock is a resource with great potential and has multiple uses in different industries. From fertilizing phosphate fields to promoting industrial progress, phosphate rock powder grinding technology is the key.
The phosphate rock is crushed, screened, ground, and collected to obtain phosphate rock powder. FTM Machinery provides a variety of phosphate rock processing equipment to help you succeed.
