Further Pilot Plant studies on beneficiation of Iron ore from Bolani for Durgapur Steel Plant of Hindustan Steel Limited

Abstract

The National Metallurgical Laboratory had already completed systematic and exhaustive pilot plant studies (vide NML Report No. IR 220/61), on the beneficiation and sintering characteristics of an earlier 100-ton representative sample of iron ore from Bolani mines, for use in Durgapur Steel Plant and other units of the Hindustan Steel Ltd. At the instance of Messrs Bolani Ores Ltd., however, a larger tonnage of the ore was subjected to washing tests on a pilot Plant of the National Metallurgical Laboratory on the lines suggested by the firm incorporating cyclone instead of spiral classifier (Flowsheet 1).Tests were also carried out similar to those done earlier in the Laboratory (Flowsheet 3). Washing could successfully solve the problem of handling sticky and wet ore under Indian monsoon conditions, to yield sized lumpy ore free from adhered fines for blast furnace charging. By employing heavy media separation and jigging, silica and alumina in the washed products could be appreciably lowered. Treatment of fines using Humphrey’s Spiral and Shaking Table as suggested by M/s. Bolani Ores Ltd. did not yield satisfactory results.