Increasing the Efficiency of Vacuum Belt Filter in Gol-E-Gohar iron ore concentrate production by adding surfactants

In lines 5 and 6 iron ore concentrate production plants of Gol-e-Gohar Complex (Sirjan, Iran) the special surface of concentrate (Blain) is increased by the high pressure grinding rolls (HPGR).At present, due to changes in the input feed of the plant, the magnetite concentrate moisture has increased. Increasing the moisture content of the material will reduce the HPGR operational gap, thereby reducing the feed rate and the effective pressure on the particles. As a result, Blain of Concentrate was reduced. In the present study, the effect of several surfactants on the filtration rate and cake moisture content of Gol-e-Gohar iron ore concentrate was investigated using a laboratory scale vacuum filter. Four surfactants were used to study their effect on moisture, cake formation time and throughput. Chemicals was Sodium dodecyl sulfate and sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SDS and SLES, anionic surfactant), Polyethylene glycol (PEG, nonionic surfactant) and Cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB, cationic surfactant). filtration tests was carried out at optimal conditions of operating pressure, dewatering time, particle size, and solids content of pulp respectively 60 Kp, 120 second, 105 micron and 60% w/w. results indicated that by adding 100 g/t SDS and SLES, the filter cake moisture content reduced from 9.2 to 7% (wet weight base). So they was effectiveness more than other surfactants. The SDS increased filtration efficiency by decreasing cake formation time, increasing the filtrate volume and throughput. The use of SDS and SLES improves filtration performance by increasing the ratio of throughput to moisture (Φ= throughput/moisture). At a dose of 100 g/ton SDS and 75 g/ton SLES, the lowest moisture of filter cake and the highest throughput was achieved. The ratio (Φ) for those was highest compared to other surfactants. The results showed that SLES had the same SDS results as 75 g /ton. SLES was chosen as the final filter aid because of it has better performance on reducing the moisture content of the cake, reducing the cake formation time, higher throughput, cost-effectiveness and availability.