SUMMARY OF A COMPLETED VAST'S PROJECT

1. Project title: To study the technology of production of environmentally friendly chemical

products from Lao Cai second grade apatite. Project's code: VAST.NĐP.12/13-14
2. Project leader's name: Trinh Xuan Hiep
3. Research hosting institution: Institute of Materials Science - Vietnam Academy of
Science and Technology
4. Scientific field (Program): Scientific and technological cooperation between Vietnam
Academy of Science and Technology and Lao Cai People's Committee
5. Project duration: from September 2013 to June 2017
6. Project's budget: 1,200,000,000.00 VNĐ
7. Goals and objectives of the project: Create a technological process treating of Lao Cai
second grade apatite into phosphate-rich products with diluted inorganic acid solution.
8. Main results:
- Theoretical results:
The results of purity of DCP and impurities present in it showed that best quality
product with maximum yield can be achieved when different parameters are controlled at
optimum values. These optimum values were hydrochloric acid 10%, reaction time 1½
hrs. and temperature 30 oC, pH 2.3-2.4 during precipitation of impurities and 5.5-5.6 for
the final synthesis of dicalcium phosphate. If any of the above parameters changed the
quality, yield or both will be affected.
The concentration of residual CaSO4 in the regenerated HCI solution was found to be
higher than the expected equilibrium concentration due to high supersaturation
conditions. In order to minimize the soluble fraction of CaSO 4, it was decided to leave a
certain amount of unreacted CaCl2 to suppress the solubility of CaSO 4, hence, the
potential of scale formation upon recycling of the regenerated acid. It was also shown that
the HCI regenerated from this process can have a high strength (4 M) when 8 M of H 2SO4
was reacted with 3.5 M of CaCl2 at 40oC.
- Applied results:
The project, has manufactured a batch modular with the capacity of 100kg/batch for
wet chemical process by which process Lao Cai second grade apatite ores are digested
with HCl. HCl is internally recycled by sulfuric acid. The process is designed to produce
DCP, as animal feed, as fertilizer.
9. Novelty and actuality and scientific meaningfulness of the results:
 The technological process treating of low grade phosphate ore into high-phosphate (DCP)
phosphate-based products is still very new and has been applied in practice in some countries
around the world. Up to now, there were no researches and applications of such a device in
Vietnam for this technological process. This wet chemical process allows direct processing of
Lao Cai second grade apatite ores to DCP. This technology can be reduces production and
energy costs on the complete phosphate production chain. It doesn’t require beneficiation,
increasing resources while reducing rejects and water consumption. Hydrochloric acid from
potassium sulfate furnaces or chlor-alkali industry is a perfect input for the process. If not
available, HCl can be regenerated by using sulfuric acid, yielding a gypsum so pure that it is
suitable for construction.
10. Products of the project:
 450 kg of DCP; 500 kg of synthetic gypsum
 Papers in domestic journals: 02;
 Patent: 01;
 A flowsheet of process treating of Lao Cai second grade apatite;
 Final report.
The project's leader confirms hereby the veracity of all the details and information
given above.

Hanoi, 27/ 12 /2017.

Research hosting institution Project’s leader

(signature, stamp) (signature)

Eng. Trinh Xuan Hiep