Abstract: This invention relates to a method of enhanced recovery of phosphate in the double flotation process for the benefication of phosphate ore, more particularly to the use of pH modifiers-silica depressants:sodium silicate;soda ash (Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3); orsoda silicate and soda ash, alone or in combination with one or more ingredients selected from the group consisting of: starch, dextrin, sodium sulfite and trisodium phosphate, added to the casutic or ammonia reagent used to prepare the patty acid-fuel oil mixture in the first stage of the double flotation process.

Abstract: The method of beneficiating phosphate tailings and debris waste material is disclosed for producing enriched phosphate ore and a sand product which is usable for glass, cement and the like or for land reclamation. The method includes treating the phosphate tailings and waste material with a cationic reagent and subjecting the tailings and waste material to a flotation process to overflow the sand product therefrom. The underflow phosphate ore is subjected to a conventional double flotation process to produce a high grade phosphate product. The sand product may either be directly pumped into an existing phosphate quarry for land reclamation or may be deregentized and treated with anionic reagents to remove remaining impurities providing a sand product suitable for glass, cement and the like.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for improving the recovery of a conventional single or double stage flotation process for the benefication of phosphate ore. The method includes treating the discarded froth product of the conventional phosphate proces with waste slime from the flotation process. The slime and froth product is agitated to completely deactive the cationic reagent prior to the anionic treatment with new phosphate ore in a conventional flotation process.