The subject invention provides safe, environmentally-friendly, compositions and methods for extracting minerals and/or metals from ore. More specifically, the subject invention provides for bioleaching using a composition comprising one or more biosurfactant-producing microorganisms and/or microbial growth by-products. In specific embodiments, the composition comprises biosurfactant-producing yeasts and/or their growth by-products.

The subject invention provides safe, environmentally-friendly, compositions and methods for extracting minerals and/or metals from ore. More specifically, the subject invention provides for bioleaching using a composition comprising one or more biosurfactant-producing microorganisms and/or microbial growth by-products. In specific embodiments, the composition comprises biosurfactant-producing yeasts and/or their growth by-products.

Process of acid attack with sulphuric acid of a phosphate source comprising calcium or not comprising calcium for a predetermined time period ranging from 20 to 180 minutes in the conditions wherein the molar ratio of sulphate from the sulphuric acid and possibly from the phosphate source to the calcium present in the phosphate source ranges from 0.6 to 0.8, and the content in P.sub.2O.sub.5 in the attack tank is of less than 6%.

A process for removing metals and other impurities in a phosphate-containing material, comprising causing the material to react with a metal removing agent which comprises an organophosphorus compound. The process may be integrated to existing transportation and/or storage facilities for phosphate-containing materials.

A phosphorus production method can include reducing feed containing phosphate ore and providing a silica ratio from 0.3 to 0.7 in a reaction chamber from 1250 to 1380 C. Less than 20% of the phosphate remains in the residue. Another phosphorus production method includes continuously moving a reducing bed through the reaction chamber with the feed agglomerates substantially stable while in the reducing bed. Reaction chamber temperature can be from 1250 to 1380 C. A phosphorus production system includes a barrier wall segmenting the reaction chamber into a reduction zone differentiated from a preheat zone. The bed floor is configured to move continuously from the preheat zone to the reduction zone during operation. A method for producing a reduction product includes exothermically oxidizing reduction/oxidation products in the reaction chamber, thereby adding heat to the reducing bed from the freeboard as a second heat source.

A phosphorus production method can include reducing feed containing phosphate ore and providing a silica ratio from 0.3 to 0.7 in a reaction chamber from 1250 to 1380 C. Less than 20% of the phosphate remains in the residue. Another phosphorus production method includes continuously moving a reducing bed through the reaction chamber with the feed agglomerates substantially stable while in the reducing bed. Reaction chamber temperature can be from 1250 to 1380 C. A phosphorus production system includes a barrier wall segmenting the reaction chamber into a reduction zone differentiated from a preheat zone. The bed floor is configured to move continuously from the preheat zone to the reduction zone during operation. A method for producing a reduction product includes exothermically oxidizing reduction/oxidation products in the reaction chamber, thereby adding heat to the reducing bed from the freeboard as a second heat source.

A phosphorus production method can include reducing feed containing phosphate ore and providing a silica ratio from 0.3 to 0.7 in a reaction chamber from 1250 to 1380 C. Less than 20% of the phosphate remains in the residue. Another phosphorus production method includes continuously moving a reducing bed through the reaction chamber with the feed agglomerates substantially stable while in the reducing bed. Reaction chamber temperature can be from 1250 to 1380 C. A phosphorus production system includes a barrier wall segmenting the reaction chamber into a reduction zone differentiated from a preheat zone. The bed floor is configured to move continuously from the preheat zone to the reduction zone during operation. A method for producing a reduction product includes exothermically oxidizing reduction/oxidation products in the reaction chamber, thereby adding heat to the reducing bed from the freeboard as a second heat source.

A phosphorus production method can include reducing feed containing phosphate ore and providing a silica ratio from 0.3 to 0.7 in a reaction chamber from 1250 to 1380 C. Less than 20% of the phosphate remains in the residue. Another phosphorus production method includes continuously moving a reducing bed through the reaction chamber with the feed agglomerates substantially stable while in the reducing bed. Reaction chamber temperature can be from 1250 to 1380 C. A phosphorus production system includes a barrier wall segmenting the reaction chamber into a reduction zone differentiated from a preheat zone. The bed floor is configured to move continuously from the preheat zone to the reduction zone during operation. A method for producing a reduction product includes exothermically oxidizing reduction/oxidation products in the reaction chamber, thereby adding heat to the reducing bed from the freeboard as a second heat source.

The invention relates to a method for preparing an aqueous suspension of at least one phosphate material, comprising, dispersing, in water, particles of phosphate material in the presence of at least one additive of the anionic polymer of acrylic acid or of methacrylic acid type. The suspension according to the invention has a viscosity of less than 1500 mPa.Math.s. The invention also relates to the conditioning of the phosphate material associated with the anionic polymer, for its subsequent treatment with at least one strong acid, for the industrial preparation of phosphoric acid.

The invention relates to a method for preparing an aqueous suspension of at least one phosphate material, comprising, dispersing, in water, particles of phosphate material in the presence of at least one additive of the anionic polymer of acrylic acid or of methacrylic acid type. The suspension according to the invention has a viscosity of less than 1500 mPa.Math.s. The invention also relates to the conditioning of the phosphate material associated with the anionic polymer, for its subsequent treatment with at least one strong acid, for the industrial preparation of phosphoric acid.