T. Batar et al., DRY PROCESSING OF BORAX BY CALCINATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO WET METHODS, International journal of mineral processing, 54(2), 1998, pp. 99-110
Citations number
14
Categorie Soggetti
Mineralogy,"Mining & Mineral Processing","Engineering, Chemical
Beneficiation of borax in the Kirka concentrator, Turkey is presently
accomplished by wet processing techniques involving scrubbing of the m
inus 6 mm borax to remove the undesirable clayey impurities followed b
y cyclone and spiral classification of the fine fraction. The fine bor
ax tailings assaying as high as 20% B2O3 mostly below 0.2 mm is dispos
ed into the environment. Over a quarter million tons of borax in the s
aturated brine have now accumulated in vast tailing ponds for a new re
mediation technology. Zn this study, a new alternative technology to w
et processing is proposed, This technique encompasses the calcination
of borax at 450 degrees C to a maximum growth in size followed by frag
menting and air classification of the fine gangue minerals. Comparison
of the wet and dry processing schemes reveals that the dry technique
yields superior results in terms of the concentrate recoveries and tai
lings grade. The results of the air separator show a concentrate grade
of 51.05% B2O3 With 93.75% recovery. A thermodynamic analysis conduct
ed on pure borax along with other boron minerals is presented to expla
in the relationship between the maximum growth of borax and the optimu
m upgrading conditions. These results indicate that the dry processing
not only provides a successful beneficiation scheme but also a plausi
ble alternative for the abatement of the environmental pollution from
boron concentrators. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserve
d.