Enhancing the Graphite Froth Flotation Yield
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Date
2012
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Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
The vein graphite deposits of Sri Lanka are located in a Precambrian high grade metamorphic terrain dominated by granulite facies rocks. In Sri Lanka Graphite is mainly extracted through underground mining located at Bogala, Kahatagaha and Kolongaha. At the Bogala graphite mine, the Graphite veins are mix with rocks of the granulite and almandine amphibolite metamorphic facies (Cooray, 1984). Graphite has been categorized in industry according to the amount of graphite carbon content. During the present study, graphite having a 82-85% C of Tub-dust, with a low market, has been upgraded to carbon 99+% grade by using flotation that is one such method widely used in the graphite industry. Therefore, high quality graphite is made by the froth flotation process in industrially.
The flotation process has been used in the world widely coal, Graphite, Sulpher, Nickel, iron ore, platinum ore, gold industries to upgrade and extract the minerals. Basically, Froth flotation process is physico-chemical separation method (Barry and Napier-Munn, 1989) However, the purity of ore part has been decreased with time of mining in the word. Because of that, mineral consumption is very higher in the world. Hence, the low grade minerals like nonsulfide metallic minerals, industrial minerals, Coal and Graphite want upgrade and separate as high grade minerals in industrially (Kelly and Spottiswood, 1989). Efficiency of Froth Flotation process should be increased by changingits effective parameters and different physical properties of particles of various minerals for the modern mining and processing industry to produce economically profitable products. In this research, we have made use of local graphite having 85% C grade as the starting point. Air fl ow rate control the correct float time, particle size and RPM value, pH, right flotation time are some of the identified variables and effective flow sheet for Graphite flotation plant used in this research
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Mineral Resources and Technology, Mineral Sciences, Geography