Abstract
As the residual flaky graphite ores become miscellaneous and fine, a single treatment technique for the middlings from the flotation process of graphite ore cannot efficiently recover the valuable graphite in the multistage grinding-flotation technology. In the study, the existence form of graphite and relationship of graphite with the associated gangue minerals were estimated by optical microscope analysis. The results indicated that the fine flaky graphite particles embedded with gangue minerals like a honeycomb, making it difficult to be beneficiated using the typical flotation technique. A combination technique of individual process and concentrated returning for the treatment of middlings was used to increase the graphite recovery based on the co-existing relationship between graphite and gangue minerals in the middlings. The graphite recovery of the final concentrate upgraded from 51.81% to 91.14% at a fixed carbon (FC) content of 92.01% by a beneficiation process consisted of once coarse (94.41% passing 74 μm) and rougher, five stages regrinding and six stages cleaning. The proposed treatment technique for middlings is of great significance to increase the recovery of fine flaky graphite.
Highlights
Graphite is one of the three forms of naturally found crystalline carbon [1]
Flaky graphite can be purified by flotation due to its high natural hydrophobicity [6,7]
The flaky graphite ore was purified via multi-stage grinding-flotation to prevent the graphite flakes from being destroyed during the following regrinding, and a large amount of middling was naturally produced in the process [8,9,10]
Summary
Graphite is one of the three forms of naturally found crystalline carbon [1]. Natural graphite was classified as flaky, lump and amorphous graphites according to the difference of crystalline morphology [2,3,4]. Flaky graphite can be purified by flotation due to its high natural hydrophobicity [6,7]. The flaky graphite ore was purified via multi-stage grinding-flotation (as shown in Figure 1a) to prevent the graphite flakes from being destroyed during the following regrinding, and a large amount of middling was naturally produced in the process [8,9,10]. In the typical technique for graphite beneficiation, the treatment techniques for the graphite middlings contain concentrated returning (Figure 1b), returning step-by-step (Figure 1c), individual process (Figure 1d), etc. In the typical technique for graphite beneficiation, the treatment techniques for the graphite middlings contain concentrated returning (Figure 1b), returning step-by-step (Figure 1c), individual process (Figure 1d), etc. [11,12]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
