Comparison of Dolomite Crystal Structure, Calcinations Dolomite and Magnesium Hydroxide in Partial Calcinations and Slaking Process

Abstract

Dolomite is a mineral that consists of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate with various mole ratio depend on the formation of mineral source. Recently, Utilization of dolomite only used as raw material for fertilizer and building materials, so that the enhancement of its added value becomes low. If the components in dolomite can be separated, magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate will be produced then provide high added value. To separate these two components in dolomite is through partial calcinations followed by slaking process. The purpose of this paper is to prove that the partial calcinations can be used as a fundamental process for calcium and magnesium separation process in dolomite. SEM-EDX and XRD analysis proved that partial calcinations at 675°C for 6 hours is able to produce magnesium oxide (MgO) and calcium oxide (CaO). Then sea water was added to calcinations product so magnesium hydroxide and calcium carbonate that easily separated by sea water. The weakness of partial calcinations process at 675°C and processing time 2 hours is the dolomite has not perfectly reacted yet. XRD analysis showed that MgCO3. CaCO3 compounds still exist, so there is a possibility that magnesium was not fetched after the separation process.