Abstract
As the largest country in Africa and home to a variety of topographies and geologies, Algeria is rich in substantial mineral reserves. But unfortunately, these minerals are currently underutilized, as the mining sector attracted a little investment and researches. High-purity silica sand for several applications is currently sourced but just from a few locations in Algeria (Beddiaf Chihi and Leghrieb J Afr Earth Sci 106:129–133, 2015; Anas Boussaa et al. A Phys Pol A 129:129–133, 2016a; Anas Boussaa et al. Rev Energ Renouv 19(N°3):481–486, 2016b; Anas Boussaa et al. OpenChem 16:1227–1232, 2018; Zouaouid and Gheriani Silicon 11:1537, 2019; Bendida et al. Energy Procedia 36:825–833, 2013; Maazouzi et al. Silicon 6(3):149–154, 2014; Meftah and Mahboub Silicon. 12:2019–2153, 2019). The grow demand for this material by the industries is expecting, so more silica sand sources are required to be found, and for successful high-purity silica sand resource identification, detailed characterization properties is essential. To our knowledge, no research concerning Zemmouri silica sand characterization has been reported up to now. It is therefore important to investigate the capacity of this vast silica sand deposit for its potential uses and to enable the economic development of this region. This study seeks to determine the various textural parameters and chemico-physical properties of sand located in Zemmouri (Algeria) for its future industrial utilization. The result of this study using XRF indicates that Zemmouri sand has got a very good purity (99.3% silica). The value of densities was determined, agreeing with the actual values required by the standard. According to the granular analysis, different granular parameters were determined and the sand was found as well-graded medium sand and as poorly fair sand. The optical observations were carried out, and the micrograph observations indicated the presence of different shapes of sand grain, some rounded whereas others are angular edged or elongated.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adinolfi G, Agostinelli G, Asali K, Azzopardi B et al. (2018) PV Quality and Economy, Technical Report, European Technology and Innovation Platform for Photovoltaics, September 2018, https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.23510.50244
Anas Boussaa S, Kheloufi A, Boutarek Zaourar N, Kerkar F (2016a) Valorization of Algerian sand for photovoltaic application (2016). A Phys Pol A 129:129–133. https://doi.org/10.12693/APhysPolA.129.133
Anas Boussaa S, Kheloufi A, Boutarek Zaourar N, Kerkar F, Kefaifi A (2016b) Physico-chemical characterization of Bechar sand- Valorization for silicon production. Rev Energ Renouv 19(N°3):481–486
Anas Boussaa S, Kheloufi A, Zaourar NB (2018) Sand dune characterization for preparing metallurgical grade silicon. OpenChem 16:1227–1232
Beddiaf Chihi S, Leghrieb Y (2015) The determination of some crystallographic parameters of quartz, in the sand dunes of Ouargla, Algeria. J Afr Earth Sci 106:129–133
Bendida A, Tidjani AE, Badri A, Kendouci MA, Nabou M (2013) Treatment of domestic wastewater from the town of Bechar by a sand filter (sand of Beni Abbes Bechar Algeria). Energy Procedia 36:825–833
Bezzeghoud M, Ayadi A, Caldeira B, Fontiela J, Borges JF (2017) The largest earthquakes in Algeria in the modern period: the El Asnam and Zemmouri-Boumerdès faults. Fís Tierra 29(2017):183–202
Bouabdallah S, Bounouala M, Chaib AS (2015) Removal of iron from sandstone by magnetic separation and leaching: case of El-Aouana deposit (ALGERIA). Min Sci 22(2015):33–44. https://doi.org/10.5277/msc152203
Deng R, Chang NL, Ouyang Z, Chong CM (2019) A techno-economic review of silicon photovoltaic module recycling. Renew Sust Energ Rev 109:532–550
Désindes L (2004) Silice ultra pure pour l’électrométallurgie : gîtologie et caractéristiques physiques et chimiques de minerai de quartz .Thèse présentée pour l’obtention du grade de docteur de l’université Henri Poincaré, Nancy ; Décembre 2004
Duvuna GA, Ayuba A (2015) A study on silica sand quality in Yazaram and Mugulbu deposits for glass making. Nigerian Journal of Technology (NIJOTECH) 34(1):109–112
Ezzaouia H, Ouertani R, Khalifa M, Hajji M (2019) Innovative technology for the production of high-purity sand silica by thermal treatment and acid leaching process, February 2019. Hydrometallurgy 185
Farsi MN, Bourenane H, Ait Benamar D, Boukri M, Saadi S, Benzineh S (2003) Site effects and damage analyses in Boumerdès and Zemmouri urban areas following the Boumerdès earthquake of May 21, 2003. The Second European Conference on Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (2ECEES) in Istanbul, Turkey, 25–29 August, 2014
Feihu D, Jingsheng L, Xiaoxia L, Zhizhen Z (2011) Improvement of iron removal from silica sand using ultrasound-assisted oxalic acid. Ultrason Sonochem 18:389–393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultsonch.2010.07.006
Fréchet J, Meghraoui M, Stucchi M (2008) Interdisciplinary studies of past and recent earthquakes, modern approaches in solid earth sciences. Hist Seismol 2 ISBN: 978-1-4020-8221-4
Gao B, Chen XJ, Nakano S, Kakimoto K (2010) Crystal growth of high-purity multicrystalline silicon using a unidirectional solidification furnace for solar cells. J Cryst Growth (2010) 312(9):1572–1576
GPW Consultans (2010) A study of silica sand quality and end uses in Surry and Kent (2010), silca sand study,kent and surry,march GWP consultants
Huang H, Jingsheng L, Xiaoxia L, Zhang Z (2013) Iron removal from extremely fine quartz and its kinetics. Sep Purif Technol 108:45–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2013.01.046
IRENA (2018) Renewable capacity statistics 2018. International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Abu Dhabi ISBN: 978-92-9260-057-0
Le soleil (2011) une source d’énergie renouvelable. Photovoltaique.info, Juillet 2011
Maazouzi A, Kettab A, Badri A, Zahraoui B, Khelfaoui R (2014) Algerian sahara sand dunes characterization. Silicon 6(3):149–154
Maycock P (2004) Silicon supply and word PV industry; PV Energy systems; INC pveenergy.com.14th workshop on crystalline silicon solar cells and modules: Materials and processes pp51–65, Aout 2004
Meftah N, Mahboub MS (2019) Spectroscopic characterizations of sand dunes minerals of El-Oued (Northeast Algerian Sahara) by FTIR, XRF and XRD analyses (2019). Silicon. 12:2019–2153. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-019-00109-5
Mills D (2004) Advances in solar thermal electricity technology. Department of Applied Physics, University of Sydney, Sydney
Monteiro Lunardi M, Alvarez-Gaitan JP, Bilbao JI, Corkish R (2019) solar panels and photovoltaic materials, a review of recycling processes for photovoltaic modules. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.74390
Mustafa AMK, Fleah IK, Khachiek T (2013) Preliminary upgrading of silica sand for silicon and silicones industries from Ardhuma, Iraqi western desert. Iraqi Bull Geol Min 2013 9(1):75–84
NA255 (2005) Essais pour déterminer les caractéristiques mécaniques et physiques des granulats -Détermination de la masse volumique réelle et du coefficient d'absorption d'eau
NA455 (2006) Essais pour déterminer les caractéristiques géométriques des granulats - Evaluation des fines
Nazratulhuda H, Othman M (2016) Purification of Tronoh, silica sand via preliminary process of mechanical milling. IOP Conf Ser Mater Sci Eng 114:012114. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/114/1/012114
NF EN 12620 (2008) Granulat pour bétons
NF EN 13139 (2015) Granulat pour mortier
Perruchoud R, Fischer J-C (2017) High purity composite briquette for direct UMG-Si production in arc furnaces. J Siberian Fed Univ Chem 2017 10(1):58–66
Pizzini S (2012) Method for preparing high purity metallurgical grade silicon. Brevet EP2297034A110/12/2012
Platias S, Vatalis KI, Charalampides G (2014) Suitability of quartz sands for different industrial applications. International Conference on Applied Economics (ICOAE) 2014, Procedia Economics and Finance 14: 491–498
Pogu JH, Okafor CC, Ezeokonkwo JC (2018) Suitability of sands from different locations at Nsukka as backfill material for vibroflotation. Nigerian Journal of Technology (NIJOTECH) 37(4):867–874
Raghdmuhi (2015) Industrial Application of Briquetting Methodology on Iraqi Silica Sands to Design Silica Sand Briquetting Unit as Part of Metallurgical Silicon Production Plant, 2015, https://raghdmuhi.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/industrial-applicationof-briquetting-methodology-on-iraqi-silica-sands-to-designsilica- sand-briquetting-unit-as-part-of-metallurgical-silicon-production-plant/
S’emiyou Osseni A, Masseguin M, Sagbo VE, Neumeyer D, Kinlehounme YJ, Verelst M, Mauricot R (2018) Physico-chemical characterization of siliceous sands from Hou’eyogb’e in Benin Republic (West Africa): potentialities of use in glass industry. Silicon. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-018-0022-y
Technoscience (2012) Panneau solaire : Traitement métallurgique de la silice ; Mars 2012
Zhang Z, Jingsheng L, Xiaoxia L, Huang H, Zhou L, Xiong T (2012) High efficiency iron removal from quartz sand using phosphoric acid. Int J Miner Process 114–117:30–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.minpro.2012.09.001
Zouaouid K, Gheriani R (2019) Mineralogical analysis of sand roses and sand dunes samples from two regions of South Algeria. Silicon (2019) 11:1537. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-018-9974-1
Funding
This work is financially supported by the National Funds of Research, DGRSDT/MESRS (Algeria).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This article is part of the Topical Collection on Geo-Resources-Earth-Environmental Sciences
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Boussaa Anas, S. Study of Algerian sand from Zemmouri deposits. Arab J Geosci 13, 368 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-05342-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-05342-6