{ "background": "The phosphate industry is a cornerstone of the national economy, yet its processing chain remains heavily reliant on imported chemical inputs, creating economic vulnerability and a significant environmental footprint. Current beneficiation and acidulation processes are not optimised for the integration of locally sourced alternative reagents and materials. ", "purpose and objectives": "This paper presents a process engineering framework designed to systematically assess and integrate locally available Moroccan resources, such as saline water and specific silicate minerals, into phosphate beneficiation and phosphoric acid production, aiming to reduce import dependency and enhance process sustainability. ", "methodology": "A multi-stage methodology was employed: (i) characterisation of local material alternatives, (ii) bench-scale flotation and acidulation tests to evaluate performance, and (iii) process modelling to assess integration feasibility. The technical viability of substitutions was evaluated using a logistic regression model, \ (p) = \0 + \1 X1 + \2 X2, where p is the probability of achieving target phosphate recovery, and X1, X₂ represent key local input properties. ", "findings": "The analysis indicates that partial substitution of imported sulphuric acid with a locally processed mineral alternative is technically feasible for specific ore types. Modelling suggests a high likelihood (p < 0. 05) of maintaining recovery rates above 92% when substituting up to 15% of the conventional reagent, with a 95% confidence interval for the recovery rate of 90. 5%, 93. 2% under optimised conditions. ", "conclusion": "The proposed engineering framework demonstrates a viable pathway for reducing external input dependency in phosphate processing. Successful integration hinges on rigorous pre-characterisation of local resources and targeted process adjustments. ", "recommendations": "Industry adoption should begin with pilot-scale trials for the most promising local inputs. Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term corrosion and scaling implications of using alternative reagents in industrial plant settings. ", "key words":
Amrani et al. (Wed,) studied this question.