Application of hydrometallurgy techniques in quartz processing and purification: a review

Although there have been numerous studies on separation and purification of metallic minerals by hydrometallurgy techniques, applications of the chemical techniques in separation and purification of non-metallic minerals are rarely reported. This paper reviews disparate areas of study into processing and purification of quartz (typical non-metallic ore) in an attempt to summarize current work, as well as to suggest potential for future consolidation in the field. The review encompasses chemical techniques of the quartz processing including situations, progresses, leaching mechanism, scopes of application, advantages and drawbacks of micro-bioleaching, high temperature leaching, high temperature pressure leaching and catalyzed high temperature pressure leaching. Traditional leaching techniques including micro-bioleaching and high temperature leaching are unequal to demand of modern glass industry for quality of quartz concentrate because the quartz products has to be further processed. High temperature pressure leaching and catalyzed high temperature pressure leaching provide new ways to produce high-grade quartz sand with only one process and lower acid consumption. Furthermore, the catalyzed high temperature pressure leaching realizes effective purification of quartz with extremely low acid consumption (no using HF or any fluoride). It is proposed that, by integrating the different chemical processes of quartz processing and expounding leaching mechanisms and scopes of application, the research field as a monopolized industry would benefit.

Research on Separating Low-Grade K-Feldspar from Quartz without Hydrofluoric Acid

Flotation technology without fluorite was studied to separate low-grade K-feldspar with quartz. It is shown in the results that qualified K-feldspar concentrate can be gained by grinding, desliming, flotation and high intensity Magnetic Separation process. Feldspar concentrate obtained in closed-circuit had a content of K2O and Na2O 12.12%, quartz concentrate with a yield of 19.94% containing 97.12% SiO2 was obtained in the same time.

Purification Experiment Research of Quartz Sand

In this paper, strong intensity magnetic flotation-acid leaching was used to separate feldspar, mica and quartz. And after the mixed acid leaching, the final quartz concentrate flotation was gained. After the sorting process of magnetic-flotation-acid leaching, the quartz concentrate was 99.19%, and the iron content was 0.016%. The quartz product quality meet the quality standards of the national concentrates level, and can be used as materials of glazed ceramic material, glass and other raw materials.

Mineral Processing Experiment of Quartz from Gold Ore Tailing

Based on the chemical analysis, preliminary classification of ore was done to reduce the content of iron mineral in quartz. The result of tests showed that the grade of quartz concentrate and the recovery are 97.05% and56.79% by adopting a circuit of magnetic- flotation processing.

EXTRACTION OF CRISTOBALITE FROM MILKY-WHITE FORMS OF QUARTZ STUFF1

Natural quartz is one of die main sources of getting a unique material - quartz glass. Wide application of quartz glass in chemical and electronic industry, aviation and cosmonautics, fibre optics and computer techniques makes it absolutely indispensable. However, industrial reserves of rock-chrystal lodes, that is die most pure source of quartz stuff with minimal mineral admixturer, are practically exhausted everywhere. All this results in usage of.low quality stuff and, thus, to significant complication of technological schemes of quartz processing and concentration, to high energy waste, high waste of inorganic acids, significant increase of industrial waste. Quartz concentrate output according to traditional technologies of lode quartz processing on Urals deposits is not more then 35%. In this turn the part of defectless transparent quartz glass when smelting from granular quartz is not more then .30%. It is evident that low efficiency of quartz industry call to new scale technological decisions. 1