The PI proposes to develop efficient methods of processing iron and phosphate ores. The proposed work deals with the interfacial processes in iron oxide-silica system with the specific purpose of developing flocculants that can produce selective aggregation of component minerals. Topics such as adsorption of surfactants and polymers on mineral surfaces, electrokinetic studies under conditions similar to those encountered in actual seperation processes and possibilities for selective flocculation seperation between hematite and clays by flocculants with functional groups such as hydroxamates will be investigated.
