Optimizing the Production of a Dense Magnetite-Ilmenite Blend with Lower Radioactivity

Abstract

Heavy minerals proved to be a good candidate as an additive to concrete to produce shielding material. The higher the density is the better the shielding properties. In this study, the heaviest two minerals of the black sand beneficiation products; namely ilmenite and magnetite, were in preparing a mixture with a high specific gravity. However, such minerals in black sand are known by their radioactivity, thus, the radiation activity of each mineral was determined. in addition, the statistical design was used to indicate the importance of the mixture on the produced density and radioactive concentration. Furthermore, the resulting mixture was optimized to produce a mixture with the highest density and radioactive concentrations that do not exceed the standard limits. The results indicated the higher the content of both minerals is the higher the density. On the other hand, the radioactive activity of ilmenite is found to exceed the allowable limits contrary to magnetite which has a lower activity than standard values. Using the optimization process generated eight mixtures with a specific gravity between 4.7-4.8 and radioactive concentrations of 16, 15, and 58 Bq/kg for 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K, respectively