An investigation of chromite recovery from Kop (Erzurum) ore by knelson centrifugal separator

In this study, the recovery of chromite from Erzurum Askale Kop ore was experimentally investigated by using laboratory type KC-MD3 model Knelson centrifuge separator. For this purpose, pulp feed rate (lt/min), wash water amount (lt/min), pulp density (%), bowl rotation speed (rpm) and particle size (micron) parameters were handled as variables. As a result of experimental studies, the highest chromite concentration grade of 54.68% Cr2O3 was obtained via the conditions of 12 lt/min wash water amount, 1.5 lt/min pulp feed rate, 20% pulp solid ratio and 800 rpm rotation speed. The best chromite recovery of 76.85% was reached at the conditions of 6 lt/min wash water amount, 20% pulp solid ratio, 1.5 lt/min pulp feed rate and 1080 rpm rotation speed. The modeling and optimization studies were conducted in the study to obtain the highest chromite grade and recovery by using three-factor Box-Behnken experimental design methods. As a result of modeling and optimization studies, it was revealed that the best chromite concentration grade of 50.45% Cr2O3 was obtained with 74.24% efficiency via the conditions of 12 lt/min wash water amount, 21.05% pulp density, 1.5 lt/min pulp feed rate and 1124,57 rpm rotation speed.