Optimizing the Performance of Pilot Vacuum Belt Filter (VBF) for P2O5 Reduction of Jordanian Phosphogypsum (PG)

Abstract

Inventing new ways to recycle and reuse the accumulated byproducts is the most pressing and daunting challenge facing future process engineers. Millions of tonnes of Phosphogypsum (PG) is stacked in Jordan and worldwide every year. Numerous PG laboratory-scale beneficiation methods are already developed. This research is the first in moving PG Beneficiation methods from laboratory scale to pilot-scale using pilot Vacuum Belt Filter (VBF) to clean PG. In this research, VBF Pilot equipment is designed, constructed, troubleshooted and operated. This pilot study affirmed the difficulty in controlling the process input parameters in pilot VBF when compared with batch filtration. Full factorial (23 ) experimental study is conducted to study the effect of number of washings, number of passes, and acid concentration using sulfuric solutions on PG P2O5 content reduction. The three studied parameters showed a significant effect and their interaction was significant and contribute significantly to a considerable reduction in PG P2O5 content. The Pilot VBF was successfully operated to achieve an acceptable reduction of PG P2O5 content. In this novel pilot VBF research, numerous process insights were practically gained that significantly helped in optimizing VBF performance in reducing P2O5 content in PG.