Wastes produced from the phosphate industry presents many challenges due to the high economic and environmental impacts involved with their disposal. However, the relative scarcity of high-grade phosphate ores has driven researchers to recover and recycle these valuable wastes (secondary sources). The goal of this study was to investigate the possibility of upgrading the P₂O₅ content in tailings produced from a phosphorous production plant using direct froth flotation. Characterization assays, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and mineral liberation analysis (MLA), were first conducted to identify the mineralogical and morphological characteristics of tailings samples and grain properties to better understand the behavior of the flotation feed. Flotation experiments were conducted using Denver D-12 in a 1-L flotation cell in the presence of sodium silicate (dispersant) and sodium oleate (collector). Several parameters, such as the solids content of the flotation pulp, pulp pH and flotation time, were investigated to optimize the recovery and grade of the concentrate products. Results obtained from this study indicated that the P₂O₅ content in plant tailings could be upgraded from 21.57% to 28.4% at >73% recovery.

The energy crisis is one of the major challenges confronting the cement industry today. Although non-renewable energy sources are becoming scarce, the presence of significant quantities of oil shale indicates its continued use as an energy source in the cement industry. However, significant...

The results of X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric and FTIR spectroscopy analyses of mineral composition indicated that the El-Lajjun oil shale is principally composed of calcite, quartz with minor amounts of kaolinite), gypsum, and apatite. The obtained oil shale ash products at 830 degrees C and 1030 degrees C are dominated by lime, quartz, anhydrite, portlandite, gehlenite, and amorphous phases. The TGA weight loss curves clearly indicate that it occurred in the temperature range from 310 to 650 degrees C. The decomposition of oil shale carbonates was detected above 750 degrees C. The functional groups in the organic material of oil shale are dominated by the aliphatic hydrocarbons, the semi-ash of which had diverse structures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The most intensive of combustion occurred in the temperature range of 400-750 degrees C. In this temperature range, about 75 wt. % was accounted for the total mass loss.