Upgrading of a Nigerian Vermiculite-Phillipsite Rich Talc Ore by Flotation-Cum-Acid Leaching Routes for Industrial Applications

Abstract

Talc remains an important mineral with a wide array of applications in paints, paper, polymers, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics industries when its associated impurities were accordingly processed due to its distinct surface properties. Thus, treatment of a Nigerian talc ore consisting of talc, vermiculite, and phillipsite was investigated using polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) as frother to separate the associated gangues for industrial value additions. At optimal conditions, the talc concentrate recovery was 70.2% with increasing SiO 2 assayed from 44.50 to 46.70%; MgO from 18.57 to 23.59%; and a decreasing Fe 2 O 3 from 8.52 to 2.22%. Further improvement on talc quality was investigated by leaching the concentrate with the hydrochloric acid solution. The dissolution mechanism is a diffusion-controlled reaction with the calculated activation energy of 26.18 kJ/mol. The residual product increased SiO 2 to 49.33% and MgO to 23.76% as Fe 2 O 3 decreased to 0.57% yielding 93.3% efficiency. The product as characterized could find applications in paints, paper, and cosmetics industries.