Enhanced recovery of low-grade iron ore by selective flocculation method

ABSTRACT

Beneficiation of low-grade iron ore was carried out by selective flocculation process using different flocculants, namely starch amylopectin (AP) and grafted copolymer of amylopectin (GAP). The iron ore used in the investigation contained 56.98% Fe, 5.45% Al₂O₃, and 4.22% SiO₂. Flocculant dosage, number of floc washing, and pH were considered as variable parameters to analyze their effect on the performance of grade and recovery of concentrate. A flocculant dosage of 0.4 mg/g was found to be the optimum condition for the sample and variable parameters under investigation. The investigation indicated that a grade of 64.77% Fe can be obtained with 96% recovery using AP; however, GAP showed the better result for Fe grade (67%) with a recovery of 97%.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Beneficiation
• iron ore
• selective flocculation

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Department of Applied Chemistry for providing reagents and for carrying out the facilities for synthesis of graft copolymer.