Physico-chemical studies on the oxide mineral systems in the presence of surfactants and polymers for beneficiation of iron ores

The final report describes the physico-chemical aspects in separation of value mineral,
hematite from the gangue minerals namely, quartz and alumina following the dispersion-
selective flocculation and flotation techniques. The minerals were characterized through their
BET surface area, chemical and mineralogical analysis, zeta potential measurement (in
presence and absence) of the surfactant (s). The surfactants, sodium oleate, sodium dodecyl
sulphate and dodecyl amine hydrochloride, used in the present study were characterized
through surface tension studies. The surfactant –polymer interaction studies have been made.

The report also describes the separation of typical iron ore slimes sample generated from
MSPL iron ore and waste dump fines following dispersion and selective flocculation to
enrich Fe content. Sodium hexametaphosphate, tetra sodium pyrophosphate and low mol .wt.
poly-acrylamides were used as dispersant and starch & modified starch were used as the
reagents in the selective flocculation studies. The effect of process parameters namely, pulp
density, types of reagents and their dosage on the separation index was studied. The results of
flocculation have been interpreted through the settling curves when plotted for the height of
interface against the settling time.

Flotation behaviour of the cationic and anionic collectors on quartz and hematite minerals
substantiated by adsorption and zeta-potential results has been presented in the second part of
the report. Besides, adsorption phenomenon and role of mixed cationic/anionic collectors on
pure quartz and hematite minerals in relation to flotation were studied.