Study On Beneficiation Of Silica Sand By Wet High-Intensity Magnetic Separators (WHIMS) And Reverse Flotation Technique For Glass Application: A Case Study From Sihanoukville, Cambodia

Abstract

White silica sand samples were collected from Steuong Hav district area. The samples were mixed and quartered to obtain a representative sample for physical and chemical characterization. Silica (SiO2) and iron oxide (Fe2O3) content were measured by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The results showed silica and iron oxide content at 94.83 wt.% and 0.189 wt.% representatively. In this study, a shaking table, Wet High-Intensity Magnetic Separators (WHIMS), and reverse flotation technique was undertaken to remove mainly iron oxide. The collectors amine (named AOA) and petroleum supinate (named NANZA), pine oil as frother, and H2SO4 as depressant were used to optimize the froth performance. The iron oxide content was removed from 0.189wt.% to 0.062 wt.% and the silica content was upgraded from 94.83 wt.% to 98.6 wt.% after the process.