Treatment of water used in preparing phosphate matrix slurries

摘要

There are disclosed method and compositions for reducing the viscosity of phosphate matrix slurries and improving consolidation characteristics of slimes resulting from the beneficiation of the slurries. An unexpectedly greater degree of viscosity reduction and clay consolidation characteristics improvement is obtained by adding the compositions to the water utilized to slurry the phosphate matrix prior to the information of the slurries. The compositions include water-soluble compounds, such as organic acids, mineral acids, monovalent inorganic salts and polyvalent inorganic salts.