Abstract
ABSTRACTKaolin is an important material that is used in industrial applications, including ceramics, paper, paints, fiberglass, inks, pharmaceuticals, and cement. The presence of impurities, particularly iron and titanium bearing materials, imparts color to kaolin. During weathering or hydrothermal alteration, significant levels of iron oxides can be deposited that leave a concentrated kaolinitic clay unusable for industrial application. Therefore, several chemical methods have been applied to kaolin beneficiation in order to reduce these contaminants. Ferric oxide dissolution is of particular interest for producers of industrial minerals such as kaolin. The objective of this work was to examine the kinetics of iron dissolution form low grade kaolin using oxalic acid solutions. The effects of acid concentration and reaction temperature were studied. It was determined that the iron dissolution rate increases with oxalic acid concentration, temperature. Leaching data showed that iron dissolution from low grade kaolin is due to diffusion through the product layer. The activation energy of the process was 46.32 kJ/mol.
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