Process Aluminum Sulfate
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Transcript of Process Aluminum Sulfate
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8/2/2019 Process Aluminum Sulfate
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Process Aluminum Sulfate
Aluminum sulfate is produce by the reaction of sulfuric acid on bauxite, a naturally occurring
hydrated alumina ore having the approximate formula Al2O3.2H2O. the mined material varies
in composition and generally contains one to the three molecules of water plus impurities
such as iron, silica, titanium, and selenium. The soluble aluminum oxide ( Al2O3 ) content ofa typical bauxite varies from 52 to 57% and it may contain 1 to 10% ferric oxide ( Fe2O3 ).
The crude bauxite ore is ground to a fine powder ( 80% passes 200 mesh ) and charged into
open lead-lined steel reaction tanks. Sulfuric acid ( sp gr 1.7 ) is added, and the raw materials
are thoroughly agitated using paddle agitators, hot air, or life steam. The reaction mixture is
kept at a temperature of 105 to 110oC by the live steam or lead steam coils. An excess of
bauxite is fed to the reactor, so that there is an excess of 0.1 to 0.2% of soluble aluminum
oxide. From 15 to 20 h are required to complete the reaction. At the end of this time, a
reducing material is added to the reaction mixture to reduce the iron ( ferric sulfate ) to a
colorless ferrous condition. Barium sulfide in the form of black ash is commonly utilized,
although sodium sulfide, hydrogen sulfide, sodium bisulfate, or sulfur dioxide may also beused.
If the operation is performed in batches, the charge is allowed to settle in settling tanks.
Flaked glue or some similar coagulable substance is generally added to remove the finely
divided suspended material remaining in the supernatant liquid. This liquid is drawn off, and
the residue is washed several times. The washings are combined with the decanted liquor,
which is then sent to concentrators.
The process is generally operated in a continuous manner by using a battery of combined
reaction and settling tanks. A common variation of this process is the Dorr procedure, which
utilizes reaction agitators in mechanical agitators, air, and live steam. Black ash ( barium
sulfide ) is added to the last reactor to reduce the ferric sulfate. The reaction mixture is sent
through a series of thickeners, operating countercurrently, which remove the undissolved
material. At the same time the waste is washed thoroughly, so that it contains practically no
aluminum sulfate when discarded. Glue is generally added to the first thickener as a
coagulant.
The clarified aluminum sulfate solution, from the countercurrent decantation system, is
concentrated in open steam-coil-heated, lead-lined evaporators. Here, the specific gravity is
increase from about 1.3 to about 1.7. The concentrated solution is run into flat iron pans or
onto a cooling table. The liquid quickly and completely solidifies, and when cool is broken
up and ground to a uniform powder for shipment.
Commercial aluminum sulfate generally contains only about 13 or 14 moles of water instead
of the theoretical 18 moles. Also, it is usually in the basic form containing excess alumina.
Anhydrous aluminum sulfate may be obtained by dehydration. The yield of aluminum sulfate
based on the amount of aluminum oxide in the both the finished product and raw material is
90 to 95%.