Upgradation of Chimiari Black Shale Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Region of Pakistan by Froth Floatation

Extensive reserves of black shale in Pakistan are enriched with economically important metals such as vanadium (V), titanium (Ti), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), rubidium (Rb), and copper (Cu), alongside an appreciable content of organic carbon (OC). This study investigates the effectiveness of flotation techniques in upgrading the content of these metals and OC, while simultaneously examining the behavior of impurities. Two sets of flotation experiments were conducted utilizing kerosene oil as a collector and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to control pH. Pine oil was introduced as a frothing agent in Experiment-II. The results demonstrate a significant increase in the concentration of total organic carbon (TOC) and TiO₂. Experiment-I achieved enrichment ratios of 1.44 for TOC and 1.57 for TiO₂, while Experiment-II achieved factors of 1.50 and 1.09, respectively. The flotation process selectively removed impurities such as SiO₂, SO₃, CaO, and Fe₂O₃ into the tailing’s fractions of both experiments. Additionally, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis revealed the successful upgrading of ZnO, CuO, and Rb₂O, which were detected in either the tailings or concentrate but not in the feed samples. This research highlights the promise of optimized flotation processes for enhancing the value of black shale deposits, providing a foundation for further refinement and industrial application.