PYRITE
Pyrite is an iron sulfide having the chemical formula FeS2. It is used for the manufacture of sulfuric acid, elemental sulfur and as a direct feed for soil conditioning. In India it is being used for the manufacture of sulfuric acid and as soil conditioner.

The BIS has prescribed the following specifications. (IS: 9380 – 1979) for the chemical industry where pyrite is used for the manufacture of sulfuric acid.

S. No.

Characteristics      

Requirement
Grade - I % Grade - II %

1.

Sulfide (as S) percent by mass min.

38

30

2.

Iron (as Fe) percent by mass min.

33.2

26.2

3.

Moisture percent by mass max.

5.0

5.0

4.

Arsenic (as As) percent by mass max.

0.05

0.05

Note: - Lower grade pyrite is used in conjunction with elemental sulfur.

SOIL CONDITIONER: Pyrite with ‘S’ content ranging from 30 to 38% is utilized directly in soil conditioning in alkaline soil.

Though BIS has standardized the specification for use of pyrite in chemical industry in terms of ‘S’, Fe, As and moisture contents in the absence of data on detailed analysis, only ‘S’ has been taken as the key parameters for classification of reserves in the inventory as on 01.01.1985. The classification adopted in the inventory is as follows:

a)

Chemical         

(+) 38% S

b)

Soil reclamation

30 to 38% S

c)

Beneficiable

22 to 30% S

d)

Low (conditional resources)

(-) 22% S

The following grades for classification of reserves of pyrite is accepted.

Reserves:

1.

Chemical Grade-I

S 38% min.; Fe = 32.2 min.; moisture 5% max.; As = 0.05% max.

2.

Chemical Grade-II

S 30-38% min.; Fe = 26.2% min.; moisture 5% max.; As = 0.05% max.

3.

Soil Conditioning

S 30 – 38%

4.

Beneficiable

S 22 – 30%

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