Removal of iron from kaolin and quartz: dissolution with organic acids

Abstract

Several minerals are of commercial interest due to their high level of purity. These include quartz sand which is used for glass manufacture and kaolin which is used as a coating material. However, these minerals contain traces of iron, usually as oxides, which cause discolouration and affect their commercial value. Mineral acids can be used to remove the iron but these are expensive, not always effective and produce effluents which require treatment for the removal of the iron. The objective of the work was to investigate the use of organic acids as a cheaper and more environmentally acceptable alternative.