Removal of fluoride from moroccan phosphate and synthetic fluoroapatites

Natural phosphate is of importance to the Moroccan economy because it is a raw material for the production of phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizers. However, toxic elements such as fluorine are present in the ore and cause problems in the industrial processes. In the present work, we have studied the extraction of fluoride from various phosphates using a steam atmosphere at various temperatures. Natural phosphates and synthetic fluoroapatites have been studied. A correlation between the fluoride mobility in the structure and its extraction has been established.