Characterization and ion specificity of the iron ore beneficiation waste

Low-grade iron ore fines and slime contain ~ 58% iron and high amount of alumina containing gangue minerals. Beneficiation of low-grade iron ore fines and slime using surface-active agent produces a reasonably stable suspension. To recover water from the suspension and to reduce the volume of the tailing pond, flocculation of suspended gangue minerals is essential. The gangue minerals in the dispersed phase were characterized by XRD and FTIR and found to be chlorite, kaolinite, hematite, goethite, aluminosilicate minerals as major phases. The influence of inorganic anions (Cl−, I−, and SO42−) and divalent cations (Ca2+) on the zeta potential and the isoelectric point of dispersed phase of iron ore slime in aqueous medium have been studied. The ion specificity an ubiquitous phenomena has been observed in the beneficiation waste.