Pilot Plant beneficiation studies on a Limestone from TISCO and proposals for setting up a 250 tons/day Treatment Plant

Part I: Comprehensive laboratory and pilot plant investigations have been made on the beneficiation of a limestone sample received from Tata Iron and Steel Company, Jamshedpur with a view to ensure reduction of its silica contents so that the beneficiated product can be more advantageously utilized in steel-making .The sample assaying 45.28% CaO,7.8%SiO2, 31.% MgO, 1.9% Al2O3 and 1.1% Fe2O3 was subjected to froth flotation after grinding it to about 150 mesh employing oleic acid emulsion as collector for limestone and sodium silicate as a depressant for siliceous gangue. These pilot plant investigations have been confirmed the results obtained by batch flotation tests and a flotation concentrate constituting 85.6% by weight and analyzing 50.49% CaO, 3.1% MgO, 2.3% SiO2, 1.01% Al2O3 and 0.68% Fe2O3 with a recovery of 95.08% CaO can be expected from a commercial plant. The flotation concentrate thus obtained could be successfully and economically agglomerated to yield strong briquettes for use as metallurgical flux in steel-making. Part II: Based on these studies, proposals have been put forward for setting up a beneficiation plant to treat low grade limestone at the rate of 250 tons/day to ultimately produce limestone concentrate briquettes for use in steel-making. The coasts of beneficiation and briquetting of the limestone concentrate have been evaluated.