Processing of Mica for Extraction of Alumina and Potash Values

摘要

Mica sample containing 34% alumina and 9% potash has been investigated as a potential dual source of alumina and potash. It was found that planetary milling had a strong effect on structure breakdown as well as on the release of alumina and potash values. Both alumina and potash were extracted from mica using mechanical milling followed by hydrochloric acid leaching and precipitation process. The optimal conditions derived from statistical design yielded 72% alumina and 75% potash values in the form of gamma-alumina and sylvinite. The analysis of the final precipitate was carried out by different characterization techniques such as XRD, SEM-EDS, XRF, BET surface area analysis.