Upgrading of montmorillonite claystone from Wadi Bashira, west Iraq, by carrier flotation

Abstract EN

Carrier flotation was applied to upgrade low grade montmorillonite claystone from Wadi Bashira deposit, Western Desert, Iraq, wherein calcium carbonate represent the main impurity.

In this study, polymeric particles were used as carrier materials and the effect of different parameters (oleic acid concentration for pretreatment of carrier particles, pulp-carrier particles contact time, pulp solid concentration and carrier amount) on the efficiency of the beneficiation process were investigated.

This was followed through the measurement of CaO content of the treated claystone.

According to the test results, an optimum operating parameters were established 15% solid concentration, 4% oleic acid concentration, 4:1 carrier particles: solid in pulp and 15 min contact time.

At these conditions montmorillonite clay concentrate containing 2.5% CaO was achieved from about 14% CaO in the untreated sample.

Subsequently, the CEC was enhanced, it increased from (60 – 89) meq/100g.