Development of bio-degradable collector for low grade graphite ore flotation

Abstract

With the greater emphasis on environmental stipulations and concerns on using petroleum-based products and escalating prices of diesel, a widely used collector for low grade graphite ore flotation, an attempt was made to develop an alternative collector which is environmental friendly and bio-degradable. India is endowed with rich bio-diversity and possesses wide and unique variety of flora and fauna. An extract obtained from the dried leaves of Vitex negundo, commonly known as the Chinese chaste tree and an aromatic shrub, was found to act as a good collector for graphite flotation. A comparative study was made on the flotation efficiency of the leaves extract of Vitex negundo vis-à-vis that of diesel on low grade graphite ore flotation. A rougher concentrate of 13.38% yield at 22.16% ash could be obtained at 1.67 kg/t dosage using newly developed collector from a -2mm flotation feed analyzing 84.71% ash. The bio-degradable nature and environmental compatibility of newly developed collector extract of Vitex negundo outweigh its utility in comparison to that of conventionally used diesel.