Este trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento de processo de beneficiamento de fosfogesso para obtencao de carga mineral nobre, adequada a industria de papel e, posteriormente, para as industrias de plasticos, borrachas, tintas, e outras. O processo foi desenvolvido para o fosfogesso da serrana s/a, jacupiranga, sp. Consiste na remocao das impurezas (silicatos, oxidos, etc) e adequacao dos tamanhos de particulas mediante operacoes de ciclonagem, flotacao, peneiramento, espessamento e filtragem. O fosfogesso e gerado em quantidades significativas nas fabricas de acido fosforico, constituindo-se serio problema ambiental. A serrana produz 350000 t/ano e encaminha 260000 t/ano para a fabricacao de cimento e 20000 t/ano para uso como corretivo de solos, aplicacoes pouco nobres e de baixo valor de comercializacao. Os resultados industriais de utilizacao do fosfogesso beneficiado na fabricacao de papel demonstraram ser possivel aumentar a quantidade de carga (em relacao ao caulim) sem perder as caracteristicas mecanicas e com aumento da alvura e da produtividade.

This work presents the development of the beneficiation process to attain a superior mineral filler from phosphogypsun, the by-product of acid phosphoric production. The process development with Serrana S.A. phosphogypsun, located in Jacupirange, São Paulo state, has shown it is possible to remove impurities (silicates, oxides, etc.) and to improve particle size distribution by operations such as wet classification in hydrocyclones, froth flotation, screening, thickening and filtering. All over the world, done to expressive quantities generated, phosphogypsun is considered a serious environmental problem. Only partparto f thousands t/year Serrana phosphogypsun is used as cement retarder and for soil amendment, which have low Market values. The process here presented yields a high purity phosphogypsum for utilisation as mineral filler in the paper industry and also plastic, rubber and paint industries. Industrial results have shown that is possible to increase the level of filler, increasing productivity, whiteness and mechanical properties of the final paper. This new application as filler is in a very promising stage ando n behalf of economic and environmental views it is quite interesting.