F. Veglio et al., DRUM LEACHING TESTS IN IRON REMOVAL FROM QUARTZ USING OXALIC AND SULFURIC ACIDS, International journal of mineral processing, 54(3-4), 1998, pp. 183-200
Citations number
29
Categorie Soggetti
Mineralogy,"Mining & Mineral Processing","Engineering, Chemical
A study has been made of a leaching process to remove iron from quartz
iferous industrial minerals using oxalic and sulphuric acid in a drum
reactor. The experimental work was necessary because of the paucity of
literature on the use of oxalic acid in the treatment of industrial m
inerals containing iron as an impurity. The positive effect of oxalic
acid on the iron extraction yield is clearly observed during leaching
in a drum reactor. Iron extraction yields of 35-45% are obtained on tr
eating the quartz with 3 kg/t oxalic acid and 2 kg/t sulphuric acid at
90 degrees C for 4-5 h. Under the same conditions but without oxalic
acid the iron extraction yield ranges from 3 to 9%, depending on the s
ulphuric acid content. Chemical and mineralogical analyses were run on
the ore to ascertain where the iron compounds occur on the different
mineral components. These analyses were carried out on an as-is sample
and on three other samples obtained by magnetic separation. The exper
imental results indicate that 52% of the iron is found in the mica fra
ction. These results explain why the maximum iron extraction yield is
only 35-45%. A flow-sheet of the process is proposed together with a r
ough material balance in order to estimate oxalic acid, sulphuric acid
and water consumption. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese
rved.