Beneficiation of silica sand for the manufacturing of optical glass

Representative samples of silica sand collected from various sand deposits available in Pakistan were chemically analyzed Most of the samples containe d 90 - 99% silica (SiO2), 0.05 - 0.81% iron oxide (Fe2O3) and 0.55 - 1.0%(T iO2). The other oxides were present in minute amounts. The iron contents we re reduced by sulfite method to bring the samples into the specification fo r colorless glass. The trace metals present in the upgraded samples in ppm were determined by atomic absorption Spectrophotometric method keeping in v iew weather the silica sand deposits in Pakistan meet the requirements for the manufacturing of optical glass.