2300 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
CONCLUSIONS
The statistical tools employed for result analysis proved to
be fundamental for a more precise evaluation of the influ-
ence of the studied factors. In the initial phase of reverse
cationic iron ore flotation tests from the Serra do Sapo
deposit, utilizing only the standard corn grits depressant,
it was determined that a 4-minute flotation time was the
most suitable for subsequent tests. In the second stage,
replicating the standard operational setup practiced in the
Minas-Rio flotation circuit, it was verified, from a statistical
standpoint, that the tests with sorghum flour achieved an
equivalent performance to those with corn grits. This out-
come demonstrates that sorghum flour could be a potential
substitute for corn-based depressants, not only due to the
satisfactory results obtained but also because its prepara-
tion is simpler. Unlike grits, sorghum flour does not require
additional pearling and degermination steps in its manu-
facturing process. Additionally, a sack of sorghum comes
at a lower cost compared to a sack of corn and avoids the
inconvenience related to competition with the food indus-
try. Therefore, it is an advantageous input in economic
and market aspects. Finally, the analysis of variance for the
results of the third stage indicated that pH was not a sig-
nificant variable in the studied range, while increasing the
sorghum flour dosage up to 1700 g/tFe favored the quality
of the generated Fe concentrate.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to express their gratitude to CNPq
for the financial support that enabled the development of
this research and the Modelling and Mineral Processing
Research Lab (LaMPPMin). Special thanks are also
extended to the project partner company Anglo American
for the sample donations and support.
REFERENCES
Araujo, A.C., Viana, P.R.M., and Peres, A.E.C. 2005.
Reagents in iron ores flotation. Minerals Engineering.
18 219–224.
Caxito, F., and Dias, T.G. 2018. Recursos minerais de
Minas Gerais – Ferro. 1st ed. Belo Horizonte: Centro
de Pesquisa Professor Manoel Teixeira de Costa
(CPMTC).
Kar, B., Sahoo, H., Rath, S.S., and Das, B. 2013.
Investigations on different starches as depressants for
iron ore flotation. Minerals Engineering. 49 1–6.
Katsuta, N., Shimizu, I., Helmstaedt, H., Takano, M.,
Kawakami, S., Klein C., and Dutrow, B. 2012. Manual
de Ciência dos Minerais. 23a ed. Porto Alegre: Artmed
Editora S.A.
Luz, J.A.M. 2016. Flotation of iron ore. In: Totten G.E.,
and Colas R. Encyclopedia of Iron, Steel, and Their
Alloys. 1st ed. Taylor &Francis 1249–1288.
Marins, T.F., Rodrigues, O.M.S., Reis, E.L., and Beltrão,
J.G. 2020. Utilising starches from sugarcane and
cassava residues as hematite depressants. Minerals
Engineering. 145 1–5.
Morais, F.P., Silva, R.C.F., Rosiére, C.A., and Dias, G.S.
2020. Caracterização dos contaminantes do minério de
ferro do depósito mineral da Serra do Sapo, Conceição
do Mato Dentro, Minas Gerais. Revista do instituto de
geociências – USP. 20 (1) 81–100.
Moreira, W.R. 2013. Fontes de amido aplicáveis à flotação
de minério de ferro. [Masters dissertation]. School of
Engineering of the Federal University of Minas Gerais,
Belo Horizonte.
Peres, A.E.C., and Correa, M.I. 1996. Depression of iron
oxides with corn starches. Minerals Engineering. 9(12)
1227–1234.
Rolim, V.K. 2016. As formações ferríferas da região de
Conceição do Mato Dentro – MG: Posicionamento
estratigráfico, evolução tectônica, geocronologia, carac-
terísticas geoquímicas e gênese do minério. [Doctoral
thesis]. Institute of Geosciences at the Federal
University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte.
Silva, E.M.S., Peres, A.E.C., Silva, A.C., Florêncio, D.L.,
and Caixeta, V.H. 2018. Sorghum starch as depressant
in mineral flotation: part 2 – flotation tests. Journal of
Materials Research and Technology. 369 1–8.
Silva, A.C., Sousa, D.N., and Silva, E.M.S. 2021. Hematite
and quartz microflotation using millet starch as depres-
sant. REM, Int. Eng. J. 74(1) 107–116.
CONCLUSIONS
The statistical tools employed for result analysis proved to
be fundamental for a more precise evaluation of the influ-
ence of the studied factors. In the initial phase of reverse
cationic iron ore flotation tests from the Serra do Sapo
deposit, utilizing only the standard corn grits depressant,
it was determined that a 4-minute flotation time was the
most suitable for subsequent tests. In the second stage,
replicating the standard operational setup practiced in the
Minas-Rio flotation circuit, it was verified, from a statistical
standpoint, that the tests with sorghum flour achieved an
equivalent performance to those with corn grits. This out-
come demonstrates that sorghum flour could be a potential
substitute for corn-based depressants, not only due to the
satisfactory results obtained but also because its prepara-
tion is simpler. Unlike grits, sorghum flour does not require
additional pearling and degermination steps in its manu-
facturing process. Additionally, a sack of sorghum comes
at a lower cost compared to a sack of corn and avoids the
inconvenience related to competition with the food indus-
try. Therefore, it is an advantageous input in economic
and market aspects. Finally, the analysis of variance for the
results of the third stage indicated that pH was not a sig-
nificant variable in the studied range, while increasing the
sorghum flour dosage up to 1700 g/tFe favored the quality
of the generated Fe concentrate.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to express their gratitude to CNPq
for the financial support that enabled the development of
this research and the Modelling and Mineral Processing
Research Lab (LaMPPMin). Special thanks are also
extended to the project partner company Anglo American
for the sample donations and support.
REFERENCES
Araujo, A.C., Viana, P.R.M., and Peres, A.E.C. 2005.
Reagents in iron ores flotation. Minerals Engineering.
18 219–224.
Caxito, F., and Dias, T.G. 2018. Recursos minerais de
Minas Gerais – Ferro. 1st ed. Belo Horizonte: Centro
de Pesquisa Professor Manoel Teixeira de Costa
(CPMTC).
Kar, B., Sahoo, H., Rath, S.S., and Das, B. 2013.
Investigations on different starches as depressants for
iron ore flotation. Minerals Engineering. 49 1–6.
Katsuta, N., Shimizu, I., Helmstaedt, H., Takano, M.,
Kawakami, S., Klein C., and Dutrow, B. 2012. Manual
de Ciência dos Minerais. 23a ed. Porto Alegre: Artmed
Editora S.A.
Luz, J.A.M. 2016. Flotation of iron ore. In: Totten G.E.,
and Colas R. Encyclopedia of Iron, Steel, and Their
Alloys. 1st ed. Taylor &Francis 1249–1288.
Marins, T.F., Rodrigues, O.M.S., Reis, E.L., and Beltrão,
J.G. 2020. Utilising starches from sugarcane and
cassava residues as hematite depressants. Minerals
Engineering. 145 1–5.
Morais, F.P., Silva, R.C.F., Rosiére, C.A., and Dias, G.S.
2020. Caracterização dos contaminantes do minério de
ferro do depósito mineral da Serra do Sapo, Conceição
do Mato Dentro, Minas Gerais. Revista do instituto de
geociências – USP. 20 (1) 81–100.
Moreira, W.R. 2013. Fontes de amido aplicáveis à flotação
de minério de ferro. [Masters dissertation]. School of
Engineering of the Federal University of Minas Gerais,
Belo Horizonte.
Peres, A.E.C., and Correa, M.I. 1996. Depression of iron
oxides with corn starches. Minerals Engineering. 9(12)
1227–1234.
Rolim, V.K. 2016. As formações ferríferas da região de
Conceição do Mato Dentro – MG: Posicionamento
estratigráfico, evolução tectônica, geocronologia, carac-
terísticas geoquímicas e gênese do minério. [Doctoral
thesis]. Institute of Geosciences at the Federal
University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte.
Silva, E.M.S., Peres, A.E.C., Silva, A.C., Florêncio, D.L.,
and Caixeta, V.H. 2018. Sorghum starch as depressant
in mineral flotation: part 2 – flotation tests. Journal of
Materials Research and Technology. 369 1–8.
Silva, A.C., Sousa, D.N., and Silva, E.M.S. 2021. Hematite
and quartz microflotation using millet starch as depres-
sant. REM, Int. Eng. J. 74(1) 107–116.