In recent years mining industry has been facing several problems that influence it. The former aspect compels the mining industry to process low grade ores, fine mineral particles and flotation tailings to produce material suitable for a global market. So it has become very important to develop appropriate and environmentally friendly technologies able to replace the conventional techniques used for the mineral beneficiation. The bio-beneficiation process using microbes adapted from the surface of the rock is the method for choice to removal of undesirable gangue minerals from the desired valuable phosphate (apatite) minerals. Through this study, a concentrate with 18.5% P2O5 and 33.03 % sio2has been obtained from a binary mixture having11.65% P2O5 and sio2 40.98 %. On applying the optimum conditions on natural phosphate ore containing 21.89%, a concentrate with 27.2 % P2O5 has been obtained on using bioflotation process with Bacillus cereus bacteria.

Phosphate ores are in high demand around the world because they are the primary raw materials used in the manufacturing of phosphatic fertilizers and other chemicals. Since the grade of the ore is gradually declining, it is becoming economically viable to mine and beneficiate numerous lower-grade deposits, and a significant number of precious minerals are discarded due to the inadequacy of new technological advances. Thus, biological processes are becoming more appealing in mineral processing due to their lower operating costs and potential applications to beneficiate low-grade complex ores through the interaction of bacteria and mineral surfaces, resulting in surface modification and mineral separation via bio-flotation. Staphylococcus aureus was supplied by the mineral bioprocessing lab, CMRDI. Bacterial adhesion measurements revealed a higher affinity for apatite than quartz. A binary mixture containing 12.5% P2O5 and 42.5% SiO2 yielded a concentrate containing 20.15% P2O5 and 33.5% SiO2. Using the bio-flotation process with Staphylococcus aureus and the optimal conditions on natural phosphate ore, a concentrate with 30.25% P2O5 was obtained from a feed containing 21.89% P2O5.