Indigenization and development of column flotation technology at CSIR- NML Madras Centre

Abstract

CSIR - National Metallurgical Laboratory Madras Centre made its mark at national level for indigenization and development of ‘Column Flotation technology’ for processing lean and fine-grained ores. The activities pertaining to it started in the middle of 1980s and have been continuing since then. Laboratory scale (74mm diameter) and Pilot plant scale (500mm diameter) flotation columns were designed, fabricated and field tested at various private and public sector mineral processing plants located across India. Development of column flotation technology achieved Technology Readiness Level - 9, implying that it is ready for successful deployment at commercial scale. The USP of the NML Madras Centre is providing One-stop solution for installing commercial scale flotation columns by collaborating and partnering with an EPC company M/s McNally Sayaji Engineering Limited (MSEL), Bengaluru and Reagents manufacturers and suppliers M/s Somu Organo-Chem Private Limited, Bengaluru and M/s Xanthate Technologies, Visakhapatnam. So far, 5 laboratory scale, 1 pilot scale and 6 commercial scale flotation columns were commissioned. Presently, two commercial scale flotation columns are under installation, one at Belatinda Coal Preparation Plant of M/s Tata Steel Limited (200 tpd) and another at Mineral Separation Plant (MSP) of M/s Kerala Mineral and Metals Limited (KMML), Chavara, Kerala for sillimanite flotation (150 tpd). Few case studies on beneficiation of iron ore, coal, limestone, barite and sillimanite using column flotation were discussed.