Pre-feasibility study of silica sand processing plant in Sihanoukville province, Cambodia

Abstract

In this study was presented the pre-feasibility study of silica sand processing plant in Sihanoukville province. The resources approximately 8,750,000 tons, would be a high potential deposit for the glass industry. In this study focuses on the characteristics of the silica sand, methodology to remove the impurities which contained high Fe2O3, Al2O3 and another major oxide element, and economic evaluation technique. To identification of silica sand which used sieve analysis, Frantz isodynamic magnetic separator following by electrical microscope, XRD, and XRF.

Therefore, to upgrade the quality of silica sand, which is using Shaking Table, Wet High-Intensity Magnetic Separator, and Reverse Flotation. The result of original sample (SiO2 = 94.61 Wt.%), Fe2O3 = 0.18 Wt.%, Al2O3 = 2.50 Wt.% on an average. In the Shaking table, WHIMS, and Reverse flotation SiO2 = 96.68 Wt.% with 0.10 Wt.% of iron oxides, 98.80 Wt.% with 0.057 Wt.% of Fe­2O3, and 99.14 Wt.% with 0.021 Wt.% of Fe2O3 respectively. Moreover, the financial analysis result which including NPV = 754,615,135.13 baht, WACC = 13.64%, Discounted rate = 13%, IRR = 69.64%, and MIRR = 33.47% within Discounted payback period 1.44 years.