Abstract

KUMAR, R.  and  MANDRE, N.R.. Recovery of iron from iron ore slimes by selective flocculation. J. S. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall. [online]. 2017, vol.117, n.4, pp.397-400. ISSN 2411-9717.  https://doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/2017/v117n4a12.

The beneficiation of iron ore slimes by selective flocculation was studied. Polyacrylamide (PAM) and guar gum were used as flocculant, along with sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) as a dispersant. The samples collected were initially subjected for chemical and mineralogical studies. The mineralogical studies indicated the presence of haematite and goethite as the principal iron-bearing minerals, with quartz and kaolinite as gangue minerals. The selective flocculation tests showed that the Fe grade can be enhanced from 58.24% to 64.60% Fe at a recovery of 66.33% using polyacrylamide as the flocculant. A Fe grade of 63.20% at a recovery of 68.04% was obtained using guar gum as flocculant. The efficacy of the studies was analysed using a separation index, which indicated that the higher separation index was obtained with the tests employing polyacrylamide as the flocculant.

Keywords : selective flocculation; iron ore slimes; polyacrylamide; guar gum; beneficiation.

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