Metal Extraction Process for High Grade Stibnite of Kharan (Balochistan Pakistan)

Abstract

A rapid and simple process has been developed for the recovery of antimony metal from stibnite ore of Kharan area (Balochistan) of Pakistan. The ore was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and found to contain 66% stibnite i.e. antimony sulfide (Sb2S3). The process parameters for the extraction of antimony were optimized on laboratory scale by varying reaction temperature from 900˚C - 1000˚C, reaction time from 20 - 80 minutes and flux concentration was varied from 5 - 25 weight percent of the reaction mixture. The metal thus recovered with optimum conditions was evaluated by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique and was found to be more than 94% pure. The recovery yield calculated on the basis of stibnite present in the ore was 98.52%.