The flocculation performance of grafted sodium alginate and other polymeric flocculants in relation to iron ore slime suspension

Abstract

The flocculation characteristics of sodium alginate-g-polyacrylamide (grade VI) SAG-VI developed in authors’ laboratory was compared with some commercially available flocculants in aqueous suspensions of 0.5 wt.% iron ore slimes. Two varieties of iron ore slimes were taken, one is denser than other, for comparison. The iron ore slime samples were characterized using XRD analysis, IR spectroscopy, chemical analysis and density measurements. Among the various polymeric flocculants, SAG-VI, shows better performance than others in one case, whereas its performance is comparable or at par in the other case. Iron ore slimes with smaller particle size are better flocculated by the neutral flocculants than those with a larger particle size.