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Characterization of crude and calcined phosphates of Kef Essennoun (Djebel Onk, Algeria)

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Abstract

Rock phosphate is the fundamental component for the manufacture of phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizers. The aim of this study is to predict how sample preparation of Kef Essennoun phosphate responds to heat treatment and to estimate the purity of the raw and calcined phosphates. The influence of temperature (600–900 °C) was evaluated. The evolution of thermal treatment and the characterization of the Kef Essennoun ore (Djebel Onk mine, Algeria) were carried out by various analytical techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the raw phosphate is a mixture of six phases, of which carbonate hydroxyapatite [Ca10(PO4)3(CO3)3(OH)2] is the dominant phase. With heat treatment, at 700 °C, a fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] phase appeared, as confirmed by XRD analysis, with good crystallization indicated by SEM. The P2O5 content was increased from 28.389% in raw phosphate to 31.085% in the calcined product. The dissolution of the calcined phosphate at 900 °C was completed by HNO3 acid attack, and occurred rapidly at ambient temperature. The results show that the production of phosphoric acid by Ca5(PO4)3F was more easily achieved with optimized consumption of the acid attack.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the financial support of this project by the Nuclear Research Center of Algiers (CRNA).

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  1. Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique, Nuclear Research Centre of Algiers (CRNA), BP 399, 02 Bd Frantz. Fanon, Algiers, Algeria

    L. Bounemia & A. Mellah

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  1. L. Bounemia
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  2. A. Mellah
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Correspondence to L. Bounemia.

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Bounemia, L., Mellah, A. Characterization of crude and calcined phosphates of Kef Essennoun (Djebel Onk, Algeria). J Therm Anal Calorim 146, 2049–2057 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-020-10167-2

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