In the present work a preliminary study of iron removal from a
yellow kaolin supplied by ECC
International (Europe) Ltd. was performed using mainly oxalic and
ascorbic acids in sulfuric
acid solutions. The aim of the initial phase of research was to
determine the effects of the main
factors which can potentially influence the iron-removal process.
Two-level fractional factorial
experimentation was thus utilized to establish the main factors having
an influence on the iron
removal and to define a subsequent experimental test design. The
factors involved in this study
were: temperature, concentration of oxalic and ascorbic acids,
mineral concentration, mixing
conditions, and concentration of the sulfuric acid. The
experimental results shown that the
effect of oxalic and ascorbic acids and of the temperature are the most
important. In the
investigated conditions, the maximum iron extraction yield was
43−45% after 3−4 h of treatment
indicating a limit of iron removal for the mineral. Further study
is in progress to define the
best operative conditions considering the economic point of
view.
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