Novel XMC Biopolymer to Improve Iron Ore Reverse Cationic Flotation Performance

Abstract

Iron ore pellets are raw materials used by the iron and steel industries. In these applications, flotation process has been used for increasing the iron content. In this process, starch is normally used as a depressant and amine as a collector. The main objective of this study was to compare the starch with different alternatives of biopolymers. Such depressant was developed in the US Patent granted at number 9,421,556 named XMC. The best XMC produced in this work (XMC SB) shown iron content at tails fraction (RJ) and at concentrate fraction (CO) of 39.4% and 67.2%, respectively while starch shows 36.5% and 67.3%, respectively, at the same SiO2 level. Additionally, mass recovery was 63.3% and 65.0%, respectively for XMC SB and starch, and metallic recovery were 75.2% and 79.0%, respectively for XMC SB and starch. Therefore, the major advantage of XMC as iron ore depressant will be regard its sustainability.

Performance of residual potato starch as depressant in the direct anionic flotation of phosphate ore

“…Another possibility of substitution of commercial starch is the application of renewable sources of biopolymers in the reverse cationic flotation of iron ore. The large amount of byproducts, such as sugarcane bagasse and straw, generated by the sugar and alcohol industries, as well as corn fiber residue, are of greatest interest (Costa et al, 2022;Resende, 2013;Oliveira, 2014).…”