Comparison of conventional and column flotation performance for desulfurization of iron ore concentrate

The content of sulfur in iron ore concentrate is the major problem of steel making industries. In this regard, the reverse flotation operation is used to reduce the amount of sulfur of the final concnetrate. Recently, the substitution of mechanical flotation cells with flotation columns for the sake of impurities removal has been highly taken into consideration. The purpose of this study is comparing the performance of mechanical and column cells in desulphurization of Gole Gohar iron ore complex magnetic separators concentrate. Using column flotation in an optimal condition led to the remarkable reduction of sulfur so that the final concentrate with the sulfur grade lower than 0.1 % and iron recovery over 98% was obtained. The results comparison of column and mechanical flotation have showed that the column cell outperformed the metallurgical performance for producing iron concentrate consisting of low sulfur content. Sulfur separation efficiency in column flotation was almost 7% higher than that of the mechanical cells, meanwile, the wasting rate of non- pyrit iron in column flotation is less than that of the mechanical cells.