RECOVERY OF IRON-ORE SUPER FINES AND WATER FROM SLIMES OF BOLANI IRON-ORE WASHING PLANT

In India around 7 million tonnes of iron slimes resulting from mechani sed iron ore washing plants were being rejected annually. Since the sl ims contain 53 to 63% Fe, retrieving such valuable fines is the immedi ate need towards conservation and ecology point of view. Studies carri ed out on two slime samples from Bolani Iron Ore Washing Plant reveal the possibility of recovering both iron as well as water effectively. The flow sheet essentially involves introduction of hydro cyclones to recover iron fines followed by utilisation of suitable flocculant to o btain clarified water having around 100 ppm solids from thickener. Pro ducts having 64-65% Fe could be obtained with less than 2% SiO2 and Al 2O3 from feed having 59-60% Fe and 4% SiO2 and 4.8% Al2O3. The resulti ng product is as good in composition as lumps and sinter fines of the washing plant.