Application of magnetic separation and reverse anionic flotation to concentrate fine particles of iron ore with high sulfur content
 
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1
Department of Mining and Geological Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, AK, USA
 
2
Department of Mining Engineering, University of Lorestan, Khoram Abad, Iran
 
3
Department of Mining Engineering, University of Arizona, Arizona, USA
 
 
Publication date: 2021-12-31
 
 
Corresponding author
Fahimeh Dehghani   

Department of Mining and Geological Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, AK, USA
 
 
Physicochem. Probl. Miner. Process. 2022;58(3):145420
 
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ABSTRACT
The sulfur content in iron ore causes technical problems in the process of sintering iron ore in steel and alloys, and environmental problems in discharging the tailing. The major challenge in the iron ore processing plant is handling the finer particles. The key objectives of this research included the concentration of Band Narges Mine iron ore (< 150 μm) as well as the reduction of the sulfur content to achieve a marketable product. First, the mineralogical characterization of iron ore was established, which showed that Fe3O4, SiO2, and CaO were the predominant minerals in the ore body. Moreover, magnetite particles with a size of < 150 μm were mainly locked into the associated gangue mineral. Second, metallurgical experiments were conducted, including magnetic separation and froth flotation. To increase the iron grade and recovery and decrease the sulfur content, two separate process flowsheets were tested, three steps of magnetic separation with a magnetic field strength of 2000 G were used in the first process flowsheets, followed by regrinding to < 74 μm and application of a three-stage reverse flotation. The overall iron grade and recovery were 76.38% and 67.9%, respectively, from this flowsheet. A five-stage successive reverse flotation followed by three stages of magnetic separation at 1000 G was carried out in the second flowsheet. The final recovery and grade of iron for this flowsheet were 77.15% and 64.3%, respectively. The ultimate content of sulfur was estimated at 0.74%.
eISSN:2084-4735
ISSN:1643-1049
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