Abstract
Bauxite-tailings is aluminosilicate wastes and is used in polymer as fillers. But its intrinsic low-whiteness has limited its large-scale application in polymeric materials. Conventional methods for whitening bauxite-tailings were ineffective. A new method, which involved reactions with phosphoric acid and calcinations, was proposed to whiten bauxite-tailings. Two process routes were employed to whiten bauxitetailings, which were pre- and post-reaction calcination. While the process of pre-reaction calcination was able to achieve a whiteness of 87% from bauxite-tailings, it required high-energy post-treatment processes such as washing, milling and drying. The process of post-reaction calcination, on the other hand, resulted in an increase in whiteness of bauxite-tailings from 19% to 73%. This was achieved using 4.5% of added phosphorous, 40% acid concentration, reaction time of 2.5 hours and a calcination temperature of 600 °C. The resultant did not require any further processing, and was therefore industrially feasible. The whitened tailings consisted of corundum, anatase, and quartz. When compared to calcined tailings, whitened tailings possessed a higher content of amorphous material, the disappearance of red iron minerals, and the emergence of a new phase of AlPO4.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Walid H Awad, Günter Beyer, Daphne Benderly, et al. Material Properties of Nanoclay PVC Composites[J]. Polymer, 2009, 50(8): 1 857–1 867
Jakub Matusik, Ewa Stodolak, Krzysztof Bahranowski. Synthesis of Polylactide / Clay Composites Using Structurally Different Kaolinites and Kaolinite Nanotubes[J]. Applied Clay Science, 2011, 51(1): 102–109
Elena Jubete, Christopher M Liauw, Karin Jacobson, et al. Degradation of Carboxylated Styrene Butadiene Rubber Based Water Born Paints. Part 1: Effect of Talc Filler and Titania Pigment on UV Stability[J]. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 2007, 92(8): 1 611–1 621
K Gorna, M Hund, M Vučak, et al. Amorphous Calcium Carbonate in Form of Spherical Nanosized Particles and Its Application as Fillers for Polymers[J]. Materials Science and Engineering: A, 2008, 477(1): 217–225
Soo Jin Park, Byung Ryul Jun. Improvement of Red Mud Polymer-Matrix Nanocomposites by Red Mud Surface Treatment[J]. Surface Treatment, 2005, 284(1): 204–209
T Chaowasakoo, N Sombatsompop. Mechanical and Morphological Properties of Fly Ash/Epoxy Composites using Microwave and Conventional Thermal Curing Methods[J]. Composites Science and Technology, 2007, 67(11): 2 282–2 291
Ayşegül Gök, Mária Omastová, Jan Prokeš. Synthesis and Characterization of Red Mud/Polyaniline Composites: Electrical Properties and Thermal Stability[J]. European Polymer Journal, 2007, 43(6): 2 471–2 480
Sathy Chandrasekhar, S Ramaswamy. Influence of Mineral Impurities on the Properties of Kaolin and Its Thermally Treated Products[J]. Applied Clay Science, 2002, 21(4): 133–142
Sathy Chandrasekhar, S Ramaswamy. Iron Minerals and Their Influence on the Optical Properties of Two Indian Kaolins[J]. Applied Clay Science, 2006, 33(3): 269–277
V R Ambikadevi, M Lalithambika. Effect of Organic Acids on Ferric Iron Removal From Iron-stained Kaolinite[J]. Applied Clay Science, 2000, 16(3): 133–145
J A González, M del C Ruiz. Bleaching of Kaolins and Clays by Chlorination of Iron and Titanium[J]. Applied Clay Science, 2006, 33(3): 219–229
De Oliveira, Nilce Ortiz, Sao Paulo, et al. Process for Whitening Kaolin[P]. US: 5242874, 1993
L M S de Mesquita, T Rodrigues, S S Gomes. Bleaching of Brazilian Kaolins Using Organic Acids and Fermented Medium[J]. Minerals Engineering, 1996, 9(9): 965–971
Wang Yuhua, Lan Ye, Hu Yuehua. Adsorption Mechanisms of Cr(VI) on the Modified Bauxite Tailings[J]. Minerals Engineering, 2008, 21(12): 913–917
Huo chengli, Liu Mingzhu, Zhao Wu, et al. Deep Processing of Tailings from the Bauxite Beneficiation and Its Application in PVC Plastics[J]. Metal Mine, 2010, 9: 177–181
George Patermarakis, Yannis Paspaliaris. The Leaching of Iron Oxides in Boehmitic Bauxite by Hydrochloric Acid[J]. Hydrometallurgy, 1989, 23(1): 77–90
YUAN Mingliang, ZHAO Guohun, HU Yuehua. Acidic Dissolution Behavior of Iron in the Floated Tails of Complicated Bauxite[J]. The Chinese Journal of Process Engineering, 2004, 4(1): 12–15
LI Xiaobin, ZHOU Qiusheng, PENG Zhihong, et al. Study on the Kinetics of Digesting Roasted Diaspore in the Sweetening Process[J]. Journal of Central South University Technology, 2000, 31(3): 219–221
Zhao Hengqin, Li Xiuqiang, Liu Ping, et al. Improvement of Diasporic Bauxite’s Digestion Through Bayer Process[J]. Conservation and Utilization of Mineral Resources, 1997, 5: 45–50
Zhao Tiansheng, Ju Xuehai, Zhai Jinku, et al. Researches on Relationship Between the Acid Digestibilities and the Mineral Constitutions for Some Important Aluminium-Containing Minerals in China[J]. Journal of Zhengzhou University, 1997, 29(1): 89–93
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Funded by the Postdoctoral Fund of Central South University(No. 74142000032)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lu, Q., Liu, K., Chen, B. et al. Comparison of chemical reactivity of bauxite-tailings pre- and post-calcinations and whitening bauxite-tailing. J. Wuhan Univ. Technol.-Mat. Sci. Edit. 29, 29–34 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11595-014-0862-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11595-014-0862-2