Talc Beneficiation Using Column Flotation

Investigations have been carried out on the possibilities to improve talc quality by using flotation and determination of the optimum values of operating variables such as depressant dosage, frother dosage and solid concentration. Studies were focused to obtain good quality talc from mineral ore samples. Pine oil was used as frother and sodium hexametaphosphate was chosen as depressant. Optimum quantities of frother, depressant and feed concentrations were arrived at initially. Both continuous and batch column flotation studies were conducted. The actual ore contained 45 to 50 percent of talc. Recovery was good with the final product consisting about 90 percent of talc.