Upgrading low quality barite-bearing ore from Azare, Bauchi State, Nigeria: multiparametric modeling and optimization of the beneficiation process

Abstract

Barite is an inorganic mineral mainly constituted by barium sulfate (BaSO4) which finds applications across a variety of industries. Low quality barite can be beneficiated to meet high-purity requirement. Thus, in this work, we developed an optimum beneficiation process for upgrading barite-bearing ore from Azare in Bauchi State, Nigeria. The optimum condition for the beneficiation was established using response surface methodology (RSM) while the beneficiated barite was characterized using standard tests such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD). After beneficiation, the specific gravity and other properties, such as moisture content were determined and found within acceptable standards, indicating that impurities were removed. XRD structural patterns revealed highly crystalline peaks after treatment, while XRF analysis indicated BaSO₄ as the primary component with reduced gangue impurities. The presence of barite in the samples was evidenced by the identified absorption peaks from FTIR analysis. Surface morphology characteristics revealed that the barite morphology changed significantly following beneficiation. The results of the beneficiation process showed that for the optimized process using RSM, the maximum yield of BaSO₄ obtained was 99.78%. The properties of the barites obtained under the optimized conditions were all within the API standard. Accordingly, the beneficiated barite sample has prospective applications in drilling mud formulation, pharmaceuticals, medicine, rubber, paint, ceramics and glass industries.