OPTIMIZATION STUDY OF CHROMITE TAILING OPERATION PARAMETERS USING MULTI-GRAVITY SEPARATOR (MGS) AND FALCON CONCENTRATOR: REVIEW

• Main Author: Permata Sari, Intan
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Metalurgi
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/54270
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Chromium is a strategic metal that is widely used in various industries, especially as a raw material for stainless steel. The main source of chromium metal is the mineral chromite (Cr2O3). Chromite minerals are generally separated from their impurities by using gravity concentrations such as shaking tables, spiral concentrators, and jigging. However, the gravity concentration method has disadvantages in treating fine particles (< 0.5 mm). Approximately 50% by weight of chromite in the feed enters the tailings so that they contain more than 20% Cr2O3. The disposal of valuable minerals into the tailings causes losses both in terms of economics and maintenance of mineral resources. Therefore, the development of gravity concentration technology has been done a lot, one of which is by combining the gravitational force with the centrifugal force to separate fine particles, as applied to the multi-gravity separator (MGS) and the Falcon concentrator. The removal of chromite from the tailings is very important and the process needs to be developed in order to maintain the chromite source for the future. Several studies have been carried out to treat tailings from chromite plants, including the MGS and Falcon concentrator due to their ability to treat fine particles. There are several operating parameters that need to be considered in using MGS, namely drum speed, wash water rate, drum tilt angle, and shake amplitude. Meanwhile, there is a bowl rotation speed and water pressure in the operation of the Falcon concentrator. Research on chromite tailings processing using MGS and Falcon concentrator on various operating parameters has been carried out and continues to develop to obtain optimal results. However, the large number of combinations and the wide range of variations in the operating parameters used make it difficult to determine the optimal operating conditions. Therefore, a review of the effect of operating parameters on the performance of the MGS and Falcon concentrator in treating chromite tailings is needed. The literature review process begins with the formulation of the problem, namely the effect of operating parameters on the concentration of tailings chromite using the MGS and Falcon concentrator. From the formulation of the problem, literature searches were carried out through journals, books and internet pages. Through the literature obtained, the literature is selected by reviewing the abstract to fit the study topic. Furthermore, a summary and analysis is carried out on experimental data contained in the literature. Then a discussion is carried out by analyzing the data that has been collected with the theory and ideal conditions that should occur. The results of data analysis and discussion are combined and compared to produce a conclusion and answer the research objectives. The results of the review show that to increase the yield of MGS, it can be done by increasing the drum speed and decreasing the wash water rate and the angle of the ix drum. While in Falcon concentrator an increase in bowl rotation speed and a decrease in water pressure can increase the concentration of particles with finer sizes, while the bowl rotation speed and an increase in water pressure can increase the concentration of particles with coarser size. The results of the chromite tailings concentration using MGS can increase the Cr2O3 content from ~20% to more than 40% with a gain of more than 60%. Meanwhile, using a Falcon concentrator, the Cr2O3 content, which was originally ~10% in chromite tailings, can increase by ~60%.