“Belgorkhimprom” Institute (Minsk, Republic of Belarus):

Turko M. R., Head of Laboratory, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, phone: +375 (17) 422-13-37
Shakhnazarov A. A., Leading Researcher
Miskov E. M., First Category Engineer

The KCl manufacture from the natural potassium ores can be done by different methods: flotation, hydrothermic (chemical) gravitation, electrostatic, etc. Flotation and hydrothermic gravitation are considered as the main industrial methods in the world practice. At a number of potassium operations, there was used the combined technology of the KCl manufacturing from potassium ores.
The biggest amount of KCl (>80 %) production in the world is based on the floatation origin. The hydrothermic method is used as a rule only when the required product grade is impossible or economically inexpedient to be manufactured by the floatation method.
The technological process is carried out at the usual temperature, the corrosion rate of equipment and building constructions are substantially reduced, the investment and operation expenses are dramatically decreased, the microelements, which are required by the plants are preserved in the final product. The foregoing facts are the adventages of the flotation method.
Insignificantly difference is shown by principal technological schemes and devices, which draw-up for KCl manufacture from the sylvinites by the chemical method. The technological schemes of the floatation potassium dressing factories are more various.
The article presents the main trends to set up and improve the technological schemes for processing the potassium ores at the modern stage. The article presented the comparative analysis of the existing potassium operations, with usage of the advanced technologies and highly efficient equipment.

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