The Raw materials and Coke making Research Group of R&D carries out research activities with a strategic objective of developing process flow sheets for beneficiation of different types of coals and iron ores, and to provide credible process know how as well as timely and cost effective solutions to meet current and future demands in the area of beneficiation and coke making. This group over the years has carried out fundamental as well as applied research in all the aspects of coal and iron ore preparation and coke making. The group has got expertise in the area of coal and coke petrology, beneficiation fundamentals in the areas of heavy medium cyclones, froth flotation, dewatering, flocculation, jigging, bio-beneficiation, CFD modeling, DEM modeling, interfacial science, chemical leaching and solvent extraction, coke making fundamentals in the area of top as well as stamp charging, by-product recovery from coke making, coal and coke properties evaluation, and life cycle assessment studies.

This group is currently working in the area of beneficiation to produce 8% ash coal maintaining yield. The objective is to develop a cost-effective beneficiation flow-sheet through development of fundamental understanding of existing processes like dense media cyclone and froth flotation, their quantification and applicability studies and development of new processes. A 500-kg pilot plant has been commissioned for the optimization of the process parameters and evaluation of techno-economics of a new-to-the-world chemical beneficiation technology. A bench scale continuous unit has also been commissioned for producing ultra clean coal through coal refining.

The group has also developed a process flow sheet for beneficiation of iron ore slimes for which a pilot plant has been commissioned at Jamshedpur. The mineral processing pilot plant is a resource facility comprising of latest and most modern process equipments like under bed air pulsated Jig, a wide bodied Spiral concentrator test rig for processing of ultrafine ore minerals and several other advanced beneficiation technologies.

The group has also started research activities in the direction of environmental remediation and bioremediation. The ultimate goal of this research wing is to solve environmental related problems, efficient recycle and reuse of industrial water through innovative solutions and remediate contaminated sites to achieve sustainable development.