Recovery of Metallics from low grade Aluminium powder from M/s. Devidayal Metal Industries (Private) Limited

A low grade aluminium powder assaying 27.7% Al and 43.7% Al2O3 was received for the recovery of metallics. The sample consisted of grey coloured powder mostly passing through a 65 mesh screen. Aluminium was the principal gangue with small quantities of quartz and graphite. Electrostatic separation of the ground deslimed sample produced a concentrate assaying 57.3% Al with a recovery of 31.7%. Flotation using oleic acid and pine oil yielded a concentrate assaying 57.4% Al with a recovery of 39.0%. The grade could be further improved to 85.67% Al with increased collector addition for a recovery of only 10.3%.