Quartz Silica Sand Purification Method

Quartz is a basic material in industrial production. The simplest use is as a filter and absorbent, foundry sand, filler or abrasive, etc. In some high-tech industries, the application of quartz is also very extensive and important, such as the production and manufacture of ultra-pure quartz, high value-added quartz, especially optical fibers, monocrystalline silicon, etc., which can be used in the electronics industry and photovoltaic cells, as well as a special The category is experimental glassware used in synthesis and analytical chemistry, both of which have a high value.

Nowadays, the quality of quartz sand raw materials is getting lower and lower. To meet the needs of the industry, the quality can be improved through the beneficiation process. There are mainly the following purification methods.

1. Rub the Mud

Scrubbing refers to the removal of thin-film iron, adhesive, and muddy impurity minerals on the surface of the quartz sand by mechanical force and the abrasive force between the sand grains, and further smash the unconsolidated mineral aggregates, and then further purify the quartz sand by grading effect. At present, there are mainly rod scrubbing and mechanical scrubbing. The main factors affecting the scrubbing effect are the structural characteristics and configuration of the scrubbing machine. The second influencing factor is scrubbing time and scrubbing concentration (the scrubbing concentration is generally 50%-60%).

2. Magnetic Separation

Magnetic separation is mainly used to remove magnetic minerals in quartz sand. For example, weakly magnetic minerals such as hematite, limonite, and biotite can be removed by a strong magnetic machine, while strong magnetic minerals such as magnetite can be removed by a weak magnetic separator to remove.

3. Flotation

Flotation is used to remove some impurities that cannot be removed by magnetic separation, such as feldspar and mica in the quartz sand, to further improve its purity.

4. Acid Leaching

Acid leaching is the use of quartz insoluble in acid (except HF acid), while other impurity minerals can be dissolved in acid, which can realize further purification of quartz.

5. Microbial Leaching

Refers to the use of microorganisms to leaching thin-film iron or impregnation iron on the surface of quartz sand particles. This is a newly developed iron removal technology.