COMPARATIVE STUDY OF UPGRADING FAYA CLAY USING FROTH FLOTATION AND GRAVITY CONCENTRATION METHOD

Abstract

The comparative study for upgrading Faya clay ore, in Faya Town of Plateau State, Nigeria for oil and gas drilling mud grade was carried out. The Bentonite ore sample was sourced from three viens. The samples were homogenized, crushed and ground. 5 kg of the homogenized sample was used for the analytical and laboratory work. Chemical and mineralogical characterization of the ore sample was carried out using X-rayfluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffractorneter (XRD) and scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive spectrum (SEM/EDS). The ore sample was beneficiated using two methods; froth flotation and gravity concentration method (Jigging). The chemical composition of the crude bentonite revealed that it contains 16.6% Al2O3, 35.6% SiO2, 0.559% K2O, 0.084% CaO, 6.133% Fe2O3, 0.91% TiO2 and 38.7% BaO. The major mineral phases in the clay are; 61.7% wt. of Quartz (SiO2), 28.59% wt. of Dickite (Al2Si2O5(OH)), 8.89% wt. oethite (FeO(OH)4) and 0.83% wt. of muscovite (K0.92 Na0.08) (Al1.86 Fe0.07 Ti0.02) (Si3.03 Al0.97) O10 (OH)2). Froth flotation method is more efficient for the beneficiation of Faya clay as it improves the BaO composition of the clay from 38.7% to 52.2%, with a recovery of 97.2% and an enrichment and ratio of concentration of 1.4 when compared with the jigging method, which improved BaO composition from 38.7% in the crude ore to 47.5%, with a recovery of 90.96% and an enrichment ratio of 0.7; and ratio of concentration of 0.7. Froth floatation improved the specific gravity of the clay to oil and gas drilling mud requirement (i.e. 4.2 – 4.5). Faya clay was found to be calcium / potassium based. This rendered it not suitable for application as oil and gas drilling mud. It will therefore require activation using Na2CO3 towards application in oil and gas drilling mud production.