Comparative Studies on Beneficiation of Bauxite Samples for Application in Refractory Industry

Abstract

An attempt has been made in the present study to bene-ficiate bauxite ore from Durgamanawadi minse of M/s NALCO to achieve a grade of the products conforming to refra-ctory specification which is maximum at 2.5% Fe2O3 and 4.0% TiO2 after calcination so as to avoid adverse effect. These two bauxite samples differ in their Fe203 content, which is low in case of Durgamanawadi (3-5%) and very high in case of Panchpatmali (25-35%). The mineralogical study reveals that gibbsite is the aluminium bearing mineral in case of Durgamanawadi sample, wheres Panchpatmali sample consists of gibbsite, kaolinite, sillimanite as major phase. The iron bearing minerals are goethite, hematite, limonite and magnetite for Durgamanwadi and goethite, hematite and limonite for Panchapatmali sample.