EFFECT OF THERMAL PRE-TREATMENT ON THE BENEFICIATION OF NDIT ILMENITE RESOURCE, BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA
EFFECT OF THERMAL PRE-TREATMENT ON THE BENEFICIATION OF NDIT ILMENITE RESOURCE, BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2022
Authors
BARKI, PAUL JOSEPH
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Abstract
The effect of thermal pre-treatments on the beneficiation of Ndit Ilmenite resource has been
investigated in this work. The Ilmenite resource is located at Ndit village, in Bogoro Local
Government Area, Bauchi State, Nigeria. The sample was sourced from four different points at
50m interval apart. The samples were homogenized then pulverized, sieved and analyzed for
their chemical and mineralogical compositions using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-ray
Diffractometer (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope/Energy Dispersive Spectroscope
(SEM/EDS) and Petrological microscope respectively. The chemical analysis of the head sample
revealed that the Ilmenite resource contained 41.50% TiO2, 21.78% Fe2O3, 15.85% Al2O3, and
18.20% SiO2 as the major minerals, 1.18% Nb2O5 as the minor mineral, 0.20% TaO5, 0.65%
MnO and 0.64% others as trace minerals. The mineralogical analysis of the Ndit Ilmenite sample
revealed the presence of Ilmenite (FeTiO3), Rutile (TiO2) as major, Alumina, Silica and other
trace associated minerals as minor in the matrix of the Ilmenite resource. The SEM analysis
revealed that the minerals grains are smaller in sizes, and are separated by grain boundaries. The
SEM images of the Ilmenite samples also, revealed non-interlocking of minerals grains with
varying sizes. Ilmenite phase is seen as the grey portion, the white portions are the Rutile Phases
and Hematite is the dark portions in the matrix of the Ndit Ilmenite sample. The liberation size
and work index of the sample was found to be -355+250µm and 9.35kWh/t respectively. The
thermal treatment (Calcination and Roasting) of the Ilmenite sample enhances the transformation
of some proportions of Ilmenite to Rutile phase and formation of Anatase, Ilmenorutile and
Magnetite phases in the matrix. The optimum thermal conditions obtained for calcination
treatment is; Temperature (650oC), Time (60 minutes) which gave 58.0%TiO2 phase, while the
optimum thermal conditions for roasting treatment is; Temperature (300oC), Time (60 minutes)
which gave 47.1%TiO2 phase. Beneficiation of the thermally treated ( Calcination and Roasting)
Ilmenite sample employing Two stage (double) magnetic (high intensity) - to - gravity (airfloatation) separation method reported an upgrade in the assay of mineral of interest to 82.87%
TiO2 (49.72% Ti) with a recovery of 65.13% for calcined sample and 85.64% TiO2 (51.38% Ti)
with a 69.03% recovery for the roasted sample. The percentage of TiO2 obtained in the
concentrates surpasses and met the requirements of 48% - 51% TiO2 as minimum rutile content
for rutile ore and 50% TiO2 content as minimum for Ilmenite ore. A process flow-sheet was also
developed for the beneficiation of the Ndit Ilmenite resource using the results of the tests and
analysis carried out. Therefore, the Ndit Ilmenite resource can be said to be another source of
Titanium bearing mineral that can be explored, beneficiated and used in the nation’s
metallurgical industries.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN METALLURGICAL AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT OF METALLURGICAL AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA