Enhancing Baryte Ore Processing in Nasarawa State Nigeria: An Integrated Approach of Desliming, Froth Flotation and Acidic Leaching

Edem, Utibe Benedict; Akuma, Oji; Kuye, Ayoade; Joel, Friday Ogbonna

doi:10.22111/jesm.2025.50784.1022

Enhancing Baryte Ore Processing in Nasarawa State Nigeria: An Integrated Approach of Desliming, Froth Flotation and Acidic Leaching

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Port Harcourt

² World Bank African Centre of Excellence for Oilfields Chemical Research (ACE-CEFOR), University of Port Harcourt, UNIPORT, Nigeria.

10.22111/jesm.2025.50784.1022

Abstract

Low-grade baryte ore with a specific gravity (SG) of 3.45, from Azara area of Nasarawa State, Nigeria, was subjected to desliming by elutriation, froth flotation and acidic leaching, to improve the requisite specifications for use in oil and gas drilling purposes. Other physical properties namely; moisture content, and pH and were also investigated. The elemental composition was obtained by X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). The mineralogical analysis which revealed the presence of garnet, gypsum, orthoclase, davyne, Illite, hematite, muscovite, and quartz, in the sample, was determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The highest SG value of 3.80 after desliming was attained at a flowrate and agitation time of 42.50ml/s and 20mins respectively. The sample’s SG increased to 4.21 when further subjected to froth flotation using 2g sodium silicate (depressant) and. 2g sodium dodecyl sulphate (collector). The SG further rose to 4.26 after leaching it with 0.2M of hydrochloric acid. The final SG of 4.26 was higher than the American Petroleum Institute (API) 4.20 specification for drilling operation. The pH (±7.4) and moisture content ((±1%), were all within the API requirements of 7≥12 and 1% respectively for drilling operation. The metallic content; Ca, Pb, Zn, Mg, Cu, Cd, and extractable carbonates were within the API specifications too. Results from the XRD analysis, showed a reduction in the gangue minerals at each processing step. After leaching, the quartz content reduced from 45.12% to 37.8%, while Orthoclase and Hematite were absent. The overall results show that the processed baryte is suitable for drilling operations in Nigeria.

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