Jordan is located within the producing sedimentary basin in the north – west Arabian plate . Jordan has two basins with potential for shale gas and shale oil, the Risha area and Wadi Sirhan. Also Jordan has al Azraq basin which consists of several geological structures. About "1500" square kilometers of Azraq area were under study which prepared for NRA with a cost of about USD (2) millions evaluated the hydrocarbon potential in the area. The study indicated that an estimated of about (430) million barrels of oil have been generated from WS – 2 member which is the source rock in the Azraq area . Two heavy oil wells have been drilled in the area, the data obtained from these wells indicates the presence of a vast amount of heavy oil and asphalt which could obtain crude oil by converting it by technical methods. The Dead sea area is about (3750) square kilometers, many oil seeps are available in the area, most of the oil fields in the world have been explored and discovered through the seeps around it. A core – hole drilling program in the area produced samples with an average organic carbon content (TOC) over 10%. One of the wells which had been drilled in Wadi Sirhan area gave us the best quality of oil (sweet oil) with a gravity of (43o) API. Other (5) blocks in Jordan that we can work on it for oil exploration are: East Safawi Block, West Safawi Block, North Jordan Block, Jafr- Central Jordan Block, and Wadi Sirhan Block.
The adsorption of Pb ions and 3,5-Dimethyl phenol from aqueous solution by Jordanian porcelanite rock has been investigated as a function of initial concentration, adsorbent dose and contact time at constant temperature and pH of solution. The equilibrium process was described by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm model with maximum sorption capacity equal to 19.562 mg g, removal efficiency of 95 – 98% at about 40 minute of contact time, with 0.5 g of porcelanite and 10 – 30 ppm concentrations in metallic solutions, which is simulated by applied on car washing station wastewater. And get removal efficiency equal to 99.71% at about 1 hour of contact time, with 20 g of porcelanite and about 50 ppm concentrations of 3,5Dimethyl phenol in organic solutions which was indicated by Total Organic Carbon and Ultra Violet/Visible absorption spectroscopy technique. The physical and chemical characterization, i.e. X-Ray Fluorescence, X-Ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscope, Thermogravimetry analysis and Specific Surface Area have also been investigated for the Jordanian porcelanite rock which represents an alternative natural adsorbent. Porcelanite is a low cost material could be used for the removal of toxic inorganic and organic materials, in addition to its ability to be used as a filter.
Sieve analysis in general has been used for decades to monitor material quality based on particle size. The particle size distributions of a material can be important in understanding its physical and chemical properties. It affects the strength and load-bearing properties of rocks and soils. It affects the reactivity of solids participating in chemical reactions, and needs to be controlled in many industrial products.
The particle size distribution of phosphate is a list of values or a mathematical function that defines the relative amounts of particles present, sorted according to size. The method used to determine the particle size distribution is called particle size analysis, and the apparatus a particle size analyzer. The sample which used in this study collected from Jordan phosphate company from ore called A3 and sieve analysis were carried out for it, after that the fraction of the sieve sent to chemical analysis. Different weights of this fraction were made as different D50. The result of this study of different size of D50 will be uses in the phosphate flotation. Phosphate rock needs processing to reduce the content of gangue minerals such as silicates; to meet the requirements of the phosphate industry. Flotation of apatite is complicated, due to its physicochemical similarity with other minerals in phosphate ores. Despite this, relatively few studies have been done on the effect of operating parameters, such as particle size and pulp conditions and collector dosage on the lab experiment flotation. In this research, the results of batch flotation tests to assess the influence of operating variables on the flotation experiment are discussed. Pulp pH, collector dosage, conditioning and feed size affected recovery significantly. For the collector dosages and the feed size are factors influenced the concentrate grade and conditioning is essential for the whole flotation process. The test results indicated that could produce a commercial-grade phosphate product in a single stage of separation but for high-grade need for another stage. Product quality ranged between 65-71% T.C.P (tri calcium phosphate = T.C.P%/2.185= (29.75-32.5) %P2O5) and (6-17) % A.I.R% (acid insoluble residual). T.C.P% recoveries reached 81% as T.C.P%.
The following conclusions are based on my experience at the Eshidiya Beneficiation Plant during the year 1996-2007 and are: The Eshidiya project faces a number of challenges as it strives to meet JPMC’s budgets. Much work remains to be accomplished, but I believes that Eshidiya project has the potential to become a World Class phosphate mining and processing operation. As my experience the study clearly showed that testing with laboratory conditions typical of scientific research yields different results than laboratory testing with plant-like conditions. The effect of test conditions on laboratory results should be considered and addressed in the future by investigators planning and conducting applied research for the Phosphate ore. Fatty acid is the collector that attaches to the phosphate mineral. Caustic and soda ash are pH modifiers. Sodium Silicate is a depressant for silica minerals and diesel oil is an extender. At Eshidiya, the fatty acid is made into soap by saponifying it with caustic soda prior to conditioning. The diesel oil at Eshidiya is also used to modify the resulting froth in the presence of slimes and to help float the coarser phosphate. The % solids of the slurry are the most important variable that an operator has to work with during the conditioning step. For the most part, this variable is controllable through adjustments in feed cyclones or classifier overflows. Typically, conditioned feed should approach the appearance of the skin of an orange for best results, although, different feeds sometimes will appear differently in the conditioners. High % solids actually accomplish six (6) positive effects during conditioning: ♦ Increase the reaction rate of the collector/mineral attachment since there is less dilution with water. ♦ Increase retention time in the units because there is less dilution with water. ♦ Increase the ability of the reagents to be “smeared” on the surface of the phosphate. ♦ Require fewer reagents to be used. ♦ Increase the “speed of float” in the flotation cells. ♦ Negate, to some extent, the influence of slimy feeds. The pH during conditioning is critical since it must be in the proper range for absorption of fatty acid to take place on the phosphate mineral. The addition of caustic soda “sets the table” so to speak. Beyond this point operator experience is necessary. Different pH levels are sometimes required for different feeds; slimy feeds may require a lower pH while good clean feeds may require a higher pH for optimum results. Coarse feeds at Eshidiya seem to require a high pH for good flotation, while fine feeds require no pH adjustment at all. It should be remembered that caustic soda is also a froth modifier to some extent; so much of what the operator does to optimize his float using caustic soda depends upon the character of the froth on the flotation cells and the amounts of other reagents being used. A general rule to follow for pH is; better to be a little high than to be a little low and lose recovery. Phosphate rock needs processing to reduce the content of gangue minerals such as silicates, carbonates, and clays to meet the requirements of the phosphate industry so during the screening of the phosphate rock in different fractions it is better to check the concentration of every fraction separately for its T.C.P% and A.I.R%. This determines the required beneficiation method. Good, selective flotation that maximizes recovery and grade and minimizes reagent costs requires that a number of things are done properly. For phosphate, flotation is more sensitive than for many other minerals and these requirements take on greater importance.
