Cold plasma treatment: An innovative approach to reduce the moisture and the water reabsorption in iron ore concentrate.

Wet beneficiation is a primary process employed by mining companies for iron ore concentration. The moisture content in the ore is a result of this beneficiation process, in addition to inherent moisture within the mineral composition. The moisture content of iron ore is a crucial parameter that requires effective control to ensure safe handling and transportation operations. Surface plasma treatment of iron ore has been investigated as a method to enhance the hydrophobicity of ore particles, thereby reducing residual moisture and water reabsorption by the particles. The samples underwent treatment using argon plasma and cold hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) plasma, leading to the formation of a thin, silicon-rich surface layer. The treatments were applied to both polished ore samples and fine powder samples. The plasma treatment resulted in a reduction in moisture content and water absorption. The reabsorption of water decreased to approximately 35% of the pretreatment values. Contact angle measurements demonstrated that all HMDSO-treated samples exhibited hydrophobic behavior, with contact angles ranging from 110° to 120°, while the untreated samples exhibited angles close to 0°. Furthermore, atomic force microscopy (AFM) topographic imaging revealed a granular structure in the thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]