PROCESS FOR RECOVERING SILICA FROM LITHOMARG CLAY: VALUE ADDITION OF UNEXPLOITEDMINING REJECT

Abstract

Physico-chemical treatment was adopted for processing alumino-siliceous lithomarg clay known as saprolite. The study explained the potential of utilizing saprolite clay as fast resource for recovering silica mineral phases for value added utilization of unused mining reject. The conversion of saprolite to silica enriched low iron precursor was achieved by chemical activation with 1:1 v/v aqueous hydrochloric acid. Recovery of nano-silicate was achieved from the low iron precursor by dissolution in aqueous sodium hydroxide followed by precipitation in acid medium and centrifugation. Physical characterization of silicate nano particle was accomplished by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the range of impurities was determined by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis.