Iron and aluminium removal from Algerian silica sand by acid leaching

Abstract

This work refers to a process of purification of silica sand and, more particularly, to a process of iron and aluminium removal from the Algerian silica sand particles. Iron compounds are among the most difficult impurities to release from the sand particles. Several methods to remove iron from the sand particles are used; in our work we employed the acid leaching process as optimal solution to purify the silica sand. To this purpose, our work began by characterization of sand samples using X-ray fluorescence, for measurement of concentrations of major mineral oxides, and using atomic absorption, to determine the iron and aluminium concentrations in the silica sand particles. Through this study, the samples were enriched by acid leaching method, by removing the impurities from the crystal lattice, as well as from its surface. Thus reduction the impurities concentration increases, at the same time, the SiO2 concentration. The obtained enriched silica can be used as raw material for silicon production, destined for photovoltaic application.