BENEFICIATION OF EGYPTIAN FELDSPAR FOR APPLICATION IN THE GLASS AND CERAMICS INDUSTRIES

Batch flotation tests were carried out to upgrade an Egyptian feldspar ore to meet the specifications required for the glass and ceramic ind ustries. A flotation scheme consisting of two circuits was suggested. The first circuit was anionic flotation to remove the iron bearing min erals by using a mixture of local collectors (dodecyl benzene sulphoni c acid : rice bran oil : kerosene). The second flotation circuit was a cationic one for direct flotation of the feldspar mineral from the as sociated free silica by using another local surfactant (quaternary amm onium salt) in the presence of HF acid. Both circuits were complimenta ry to each other and each had its own operating conditions. The result s showed that a final concentrate assaying 89.5% feldspar mineral, 0.1 % Fe2O3 and 18.65% Al2O3 was obtained, at the optimum operating condit ions, from an ore containing about 11.97% Al2O3, 0.53% Fe2O3 and 57.5% feldspar mineral, satisfying the requirements of the glass and cerami c industries.