Recovery of values from barite sludge using Multi-gravity Separator

Abstract

Wastes generated by the metallurgical, mineral and allied industries mostly contain valuable fines. These fine par-ticles not only cause loss of natural resources but create environmental pollution also. Multi-gravity separator(MGS) is the latest inclusion to various gravity separation machines developed for the treatment of very fine particles(less than 75 microns) and has shown considerable promise. Recently study has been undertaken at the National Meta-llurgical Laboratory,Jamshedpur to develop technology to recover values (> 90 % BaSO4) suitable for reuse from currently produced barite wastes, flue ash and sludge, generated and accumulated for the last three decades at a plant in south India. In the present paper some of the results obtained using MGS have been discussed. A mathe-matical modelling technique, using experiments and stati-stics for the control of separation process inside MGS, has been presented. Process parameters of MGS were optim-ised to achieve best possible grade from the sludge, using "Design of Experiments" technique which involves the selection of a strategy to obtain an adequate model with a minimum of experimentation. Using MGS, it was possible to achieve, at the bench scale level, required grade with recovery meeting specification.