COMPLETE SCHOOL PROJECT TOPICS & MATERIALS :
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF STUDY
Iron is one of the most abundant element in the earth’s crust, being the fourth most abundant element at about 5% by weight (Alafara et al, 2007). Astrophysical and seisimic evidence indicate that iron is even more abundant in the interior of the earth and is apparently combined with nickel to make up the bulk of planets core. Iron ores are mainly composed of iron oxides, and oxyhydroxides, with other accessory gangue phases. These iron ores cannot be used in the production of steel in their raw states. For them to be maximally used in the production of quality steel, they must be upgraded or beneficiated. Although the terms coarse-grained, intermediate size and fine grained are not assigned definite or specific dermacative values in mineral processing, a fine grained iron ore is often construed as one in which mineral matter is so finely disseminated within the gangue matrix that crushing and grinding, to effect liberation, produce minute particles that respond poorly to conventional beneficiation equipment and/ or processes (froth flotation, magnetic separation gravity separation etc) (Uwadiale, 1990).
Uwadiale and Whewell (1988) observed that the utilization of Agbaja iron ore is hampered by its poor response to established industrial beneficiation techniques, this is as a result of fine grained texture of the iron ore. Phosphorus may be incorporated either into the crystal lattice of iron oxides or into the gangue minerals (Dukino et al, 2000). This element has a deleterious effect on the workability of steel (Muhammed and Zhang, 1989). For that reason, in most places only premium low phosphorus ores (less than 0.08w%P) are extracted leaving many iron mines around the world enriched in un-tradable, high – phosphorus iron ore (Cheng et al, 1999; Dukino et al, 2000). If steel is produced with high level of phosphorus and sulphur that steel will be brittle and can easily crack hence the need for dephosphorization and desulphurization. Depending on the degree of association of phosphorus with the minerals in the ore body, iron ore can be dephosphorized either physically or chemically (Kokal, 1990; Fonseca et al, 1994). In the former case, communition followed by wet magnetic separation or froth flotation is generally employed when the phosphates gangue minerals appear as discrete inclusions in the iron oxide matrix (primary mineralization) (Kokal, 1990; Fonseca, et al, 1994). However, when phosphorus is disseminated in the iron oxide structure, possibly forming cryptocrystalline phosphates or forming solid solutions with the iron oxide phases (secondary mineralization), the dephosphorization can only proceed by chemical routes (Kokal, 1990); Fonseca et al, 1994; Dukino et al, 2000).
The biological treatment of ores to remove contaminants, often referred to as bioleaching or bio beneficiation (Jain and Sharma, 2004), is another variant of the above mentioned chemical processing. In such a process, the micro organisms produce, as a consequence of their metabolism, a chemical by-product (mineral acids, organic acids, polymers, enzymes). The chemical by-products, in turn attack the gangue minerals contained in the ore, dissolving them and thus producing their selective removal (Jain and Sharma 2004). The microorganism may or may not, get some advantage from this solubilization process (such as a nutrient or energy source). In the iron mining industry, the use of microorganisms could offer an The aims of this work include:
To determine the best beneficiating method of Agbaja iron ore that will yield total iron of 67% – 68%
To use different beneficiation techniques to beneficiate Agbaja iron ore.
TodephosphorizeanddesulphuriseAgbajaironoreusing hydrochloric acid.
To remove phosphorus and sulphur from Agbaja iron ore using sulphuric acid.
To dephosphorize and desulphurize Agbaja iron ore by nitric acid.
To use five different colonies and a mixed colony of bacteria to dephosphorize and desulphurize Agbaja iron ore
To employ central composite design to develop models and to subject them to optimization processes
SCOPE OF THE
STUDY
Chemical analysis of Agbaja iron ore as received and scrubbed or deslimed will be carried out in order to obtain the chemical composition of the ore.
Different beneficiation techniques will be employed to beneficiate Agbaja iron ore – gravity separation technique by jigging table, rapid magnetic separation technique, Humphrey spiral technique, froth flotation technique, jigging table technique run on magnetic separation technique, jigging table and magnetic separation technique run on froth flotation technique and oil agglomeration technique.
The use of different moles of hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid and nitric acid on different particle sizes of the ore at different leaching times will be employed to dephosphorize and desulphurize the Agbaja iron ore.
Different types of bacteria will be isolated from Agbaja iron ore. Each of the isolates and combination of the isolates will be used to inoculate the ore at different bacterial populations, and leaching times, in order to dephosphorize and desulphurize the ore.
The results will also be subjected to central composite design in order to develop models that will be optimized.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
STUDY
The significance of this study stems on the need, reality and possibility of harnessing the low grade, high phosphorus, high sulphur content Agbaja iron ore using techniques that will beneficiate, dephosphorize and desulphurize the iron ore to desired marketable values. When these are achieved it will improve the quality of the iron ore thereby enhancing the economic potentials of the ore. It will also add to export potentials of the Nigerian economy.
It is expected that this study when carried out would provide relevant data for reference in similar future studies since no extensive and detailed work had been carried out on this ore. The developed models will be applied to future works on these areas.