Scavenging of Niobium Pentoxide from Pre-Scrubbed Columbite Tailings at Varying Sieve Size for Industrial Application

Abstract

This study focuses on employing a cross-belt magnetic separator at various sieve sizes to upgrade the processed tailings of Kuru columbite ore for industrial application. The aim is to improve the quality of the processed tailings of the desliming process of the Kuru columbite (Plateau State) scrubbing method toward niobium pentoxide recovery by removing impurities through a cross-belt magnetic separator. The process was carried out at varied sieve sizes ranging from 500 to 125 µm. The cross-belt magnetic separator effectively removed ferromagnetic minerals (Niobium pentoxide) from the processed tailings, leading to a higher purity of the resulting mineral (48.326% Nb₂O₅) at 250 µm. Therefore, a 250 µm sieve fraction is recommended for its high grade, highest enrichment ratio, highest concentration ratio, and relatively low recovery. The study findings are helpful for niobium pentoxide production from columbite ore processing technology optimization, particularly in the context of industrial applications.