SOMETHING NEW
 on
achieving the product
quality, recovery and production of ilmenite, rutile and zircon to
meet the market standards. It is observed that the recovery and grade of HMC is about 98% and 97.6% respectively in spiral-floatex combination in
the pilot plant and the same has been selected for actual production.
The proposed flow sheet
for ilmenite is a conventional one and the dried HMC is fed to Rare
Earth Drum(RED) magnetic separator to recover the ilmenite in the
magnetic product which may be treated in High Tension Separator to
reduce U + Th while middlings are treated in Rare Earth Rolls to produce
Secondary ilmenites.
The non magnetics from
the ilmenite circuit will be treated in a gravity circuit comprising
spirals and floatex separator. The concentrate thus obtained is treated
in series of HT Separators and rare earth roll magnetic separators to
produce final product of rutile.
The non conductor
fraction from the Rutile circuit, which is a crude zircon concentrate,
will be subjected to hot acid leaching followed by desliming at -63
microns. The zircon concentrate dried at 120° C and further processed on
an electrostatic separator unit to further remove the remaining TiO2
minerals, and a magnetic separator to remove magnetic aluminum silicates
and monazite.
The overall recoveries
of ilmenite, rutile (non-magnetic TiO2) and zircon are about 98%, 89%,
81% respectively which are at par with that achievable in the industry.
The commercial
production is expected to start sometime in end 2008.
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