| الملخص | Bench scale experiments were carried out to upgrade low grade Ca-montmorillonite claystone from Wadi Bashiera deposit in the Western Desert. Mineralogically, the dominant gangue mineral is calcite with accessory of quartz and gypsum. The beneficiation process adopted was a dispersion sedimentation method, using sodium hexametaphosphate and tetra sodium pyrophosphate (TSPP). Centrifugal sedimentation was applied for the separation of the gangue, and dewatering of montmorillonite concentrate. Beneficiation operation under the conditions (2 wt % solid concentration, 15 minutes stirring time, 0.6 wt % sodium hexa metaphosphate, and 7minutes mixing of clay slurry and dispersant) effectively removed the majority of the associated calcite and quartz. The montmorillonite concentrate after sodium activation, posse's rheological properties which fit API specification for drilling fluids. Suggestion for the process flow diagram (PFD) of the beneficiation and activation is also given. | |
