Kinetics of Owhe kaolinite leaching for alumina recovery in hydrochloric acid solution

Recovery of alumina from kaolinite presents a sustainable alternative to its recovery from bauxite, a major source of alumina which is depleting in quantity globally. Owhe kaolinite proves to be a reliable resource for this process given its rich alumina content. This study focused on the leaching o...

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Main Authors: Ikechukwu A. Nnanwube, Mabel Keke, Okechukwu D. Onukwuli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-03-01
Series:Scientific African
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227623004994
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author Ikechukwu A. Nnanwube
Mabel Keke
Okechukwu D. Onukwuli
author_facet Ikechukwu A. Nnanwube
Mabel Keke
Okechukwu D. Onukwuli
author_sort Ikechukwu A. Nnanwube
collection DOAJ
description Recovery of alumina from kaolinite presents a sustainable alternative to its recovery from bauxite, a major source of alumina which is depleting in quantity globally. Owhe kaolinite proves to be a reliable resource for this process given its rich alumina content. This study focused on the leaching of alumina from Owhe kaolinite in hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution. Effects of parameters such as acid concentration, stirring rate, leaching temperature, particle diameter and solid/liquid (S/L) ratio, were investigated. The experimental data was analyzed using relevant kinetic models to establish the best model of fit. Alumina leaching rate increased as the temperature, stirring rate, and acid concentration increased, and decreased with increase in solid/liquid ratio and particle diameter. The experimental results fitted into the solid film diffusion model while chemical reaction was found to be the rate-determining step, with activation energy (Ea) of 34.79 kJ/mol and a pre-exponential factor of 120.37 s–1. The result revealed an average alumina leaching rate of 85 % with an overall reaction constant of 0.983 s–1. Post-leaching analysis by energy dispersive spectrophotometer (EDS) also confirms over 80 % alumina leaching rate, which is in line with the experimental result. Hence, hydrochloric acid proved to be a viable lixiviant for alumina recovery from Owhe kaolinite.
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spelling doaj.art-13d33af8b4f44a3599c04868604cfb6d2024-03-05T04:30:14ZengElsevierScientific African2468-22762024-03-0123e02045Kinetics of Owhe kaolinite leaching for alumina recovery in hydrochloric acid solutionIkechukwu A. Nnanwube0Mabel Keke1Okechukwu D. Onukwuli2Chemical Engineering Department, Madonna University, Akpugo, Nigeria; Corresponding author.Chemical Engineering Department, Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, NigeriaChemical Engineering Department, Madonna University, Akpugo, Nigeria; Chemical Engineering Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, NigeriaRecovery of alumina from kaolinite presents a sustainable alternative to its recovery from bauxite, a major source of alumina which is depleting in quantity globally. Owhe kaolinite proves to be a reliable resource for this process given its rich alumina content. This study focused on the leaching of alumina from Owhe kaolinite in hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution. Effects of parameters such as acid concentration, stirring rate, leaching temperature, particle diameter and solid/liquid (S/L) ratio, were investigated. The experimental data was analyzed using relevant kinetic models to establish the best model of fit. Alumina leaching rate increased as the temperature, stirring rate, and acid concentration increased, and decreased with increase in solid/liquid ratio and particle diameter. The experimental results fitted into the solid film diffusion model while chemical reaction was found to be the rate-determining step, with activation energy (Ea) of 34.79 kJ/mol and a pre-exponential factor of 120.37 s–1. The result revealed an average alumina leaching rate of 85 % with an overall reaction constant of 0.983 s–1. Post-leaching analysis by energy dispersive spectrophotometer (EDS) also confirms over 80 % alumina leaching rate, which is in line with the experimental result. Hence, hydrochloric acid proved to be a viable lixiviant for alumina recovery from Owhe kaolinite.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227623004994Metal dissolutionRate-determining stepActivation energyKinetic modelsRate constantLeaching rate
spellingShingle Ikechukwu A. Nnanwube
Mabel Keke
Okechukwu D. Onukwuli
Kinetics of Owhe kaolinite leaching for alumina recovery in hydrochloric acid solution
Scientific African
Metal dissolution
Rate-determining step
Activation energy
Kinetic models
Rate constant
Leaching rate
title Kinetics of Owhe kaolinite leaching for alumina recovery in hydrochloric acid solution
title_full Kinetics of Owhe kaolinite leaching for alumina recovery in hydrochloric acid solution
title_fullStr Kinetics of Owhe kaolinite leaching for alumina recovery in hydrochloric acid solution
title_full_unstemmed Kinetics of Owhe kaolinite leaching for alumina recovery in hydrochloric acid solution
title_short Kinetics of Owhe kaolinite leaching for alumina recovery in hydrochloric acid solution
title_sort kinetics of owhe kaolinite leaching for alumina recovery in hydrochloric acid solution
topic Metal dissolution
Rate-determining step
Activation energy
Kinetic models
Rate constant
Leaching rate
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227623004994
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AT mabelkeke kineticsofowhekaoliniteleachingforaluminarecoveryinhydrochloricacidsolution
AT okechukwudonukwuli kineticsofowhekaoliniteleachingforaluminarecoveryinhydrochloricacidsolution