Beneficiation of fine tailings of Emet Hisarcık Boron Plant waste dam by flotation

In this study, the possibility to beneficiate fine tailings of Emet Hisarcık Boron Plant, which cause both environmental problem and economic losses, is examined.Therefore, first of all chemical, physical and physico-chemical characterization studies of the material have been performed. It has been determined that the representative sample taken from the waste dam has 27,64% B2O3 and 0,6026% As2O3. As a result of the mineralogical examinations, it has been determined that the sample mainly consisted of colemanite, montmorillonite and calcite minerals. Also sample contains small amounts of dolamite and muscovite. In the benefication study, flotation has been applied. Therefore, first the zeta potential studies of colemanite and clay minerals have been performed in accordance with pH, clay ratio, inorganic ions, flotation reactives and dispersants. In the zeta potential studies performed in accordance with pH, it has been seen that clay has negative surface charge for all pH values while colemanite has point of zero charge at pH:10,2 In the measurements performed with different ions having various valences, it has been determined that multi-valence ions increase the surface charge of colemanite to positive direction and clay surface approaches to positive degree. The flotation reactives have changed to colemanite surface to negative. Flotation tests have been performed in two stages. In the first two stages, arsenic minerals and colemanite flotations have been performed, respectively. According to particle size analyse, the liberation size was found as -150 8m and size of -38 8m discharged as a slime. Therefore; suitable size group for flotation was obtained as -150 +38 8m. As the result of the colemanite flotation performed under optimum conditions, the recovery for the concentrate having 46,28% B2O3 has been obtained as 98,42%. Tailing grade is 1,38% B2O3. Keywords : Flotation, Hisarcık Boron Plant, Colemanite.