CHATHAM REPORTS ENCOURAGING DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE TEST RESULTS
Chatham Rock Phosphate Ltd. has provided a further update on the dicalcium phosphate (DCP) manufacturing project that the company announced on Jan. 14, 2022.
On that date, the company announced the start of a prefeasibility study to produce DCP from the Korella and Korella South phosphate projects in Queensland.
DCP and derivative monocalcium phosphate (MCP) are essential additives to improve bone growth and structure in all farmed animals. DCP and MCP are added to the feed ration and are important ingredients in supplemental feeding.
The company advised that it would send samples of Korella phosphate to phosphate technology specialist Prayon SA for testing to establish the parameters for production of DCP through its GetMoreP technology.
The company sent a three-kilogram sample of a low-grade phosphate — 20 per cent P2O5 (phosphorus pentoxide) (rather than the normal 30 per cent P2O5 direct shipping ore) — to test the ability to value add to low-grade phosphate resources at the Korella mine and Korella South.
Prayon undertook tests in accordance with the standard appraisal protocols for the GetMoreP process.
Initial test work suggests, with slight modifications using Prayon’s process technology suite, low-grade Korella phosphate is a suitable feedstock for MCP production with European Union acceptable fluorine levels.
The company’s original objective was to produce DCP as the phosphate-rich product. However, MCP is preferred by domestic producers of feedlot feed rations and in the various mineral blocks/lick blocks for cattle and sheep as well as in the poultry industry. MCP is also a higher-value product.
Future test work, now being arranged, will focus on ways to improve yield and to minimize the cost of process reagent requirements in order to produce MCP.
The timing for production of MCP in Australia coincides with changes to cattle production, including breeding cattle in northern Australia, fattening them in feedlots on the Darling Downs and northern New South Wales and delivering to abattoirs close to Brisbane.
MCP produced in Cloncurry can go north by way of cattle lick blocks and go south as feed additive into the feedlots.
About DCP and MCP
Dicalcium phosphate and derivative monocalcium phosphate improve bone growth and structure in all farmed animals when added to the feed ration and supplemental feed.
MCP is also widely used in the poultry industry.
DCP and MCP are both fully imported products recently facing supply chain difficulties. Both currently sell for over $1,000 (Australian) per tonne as delivered on farm.
