Enhanced separation for ilmenite tailings with a novel HGMS-flotation process. Issue 4 (3rd March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Huifen; Zeng, Jianwu; Xie, Haiyun; Guan, Changping; Chen, Luzheng
• Is Part Of: Separation science and technology. Volume 55:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 752
• Page End: 760
• Publication Date: 2020-03-03
• Subjects: High-gradient magnetic separation -- flotation -- ilmenite tailings -- recovery; Separation (Technology) -- Periodicals; 660.284205
• DOI: 10.1080/01496395.2019.1567546
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-6395

Abstract

ABSTRACT: China is rich in titanium resources, which accounts for more than 35% of the world. But, until today, the industrial TiO2 recovery for ilmenite ore is slightly higher than 30% in the current pulsating high-gradient magnetic separation-flotation process (HGMS) so that a large amount of ilmenite value were lost in tailings. A centrifugal HGMS (CHGMS) method was introduced and a novel HGMS-flotation process combining the method was investigated to achieve an enhanced separation for Panzhihua ilmenite tailings in China. The results of this investigation indicate that this new process achieved a superior separation performance to the current one and produced a qualified ilmenite concentrate assaying 46.62% TiO2 at a significantly enhanced recovery reaching 40.42%. In the new process, the CHGMS separator concentrated ilmenites at high selectivity and produced a high-grade ilmenite concentrate fed to flotation cleaning process, which significantly benefited the enhanced separation for the ilmenite tailings. It was concluded that this new HGMS-flotation process is prospective in improving the separation performance for ilmenite from tailings.