minerals Article Kinetics of Iron Leaching from Kaolinitic Clay, Using Phosphoric Acid Román A. Hernández-Hernández 1 , Felipe Legorreta-García 1, *, Leticia Esperanza Hernández-Cruz 1 , Edgar A. Chavez-Urbiola 2 and Eleazar Salinas-Rodríguez 1 1 2 * Laboratorio de Tecnología de Cerámicos, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Área Académica de Ciencias de la Tierra y Materiales, Carretera Pachuca—Tulancingo, Km 4.5 s/n, Mineral de la Reforma, Hidalgo C.P. 42184, Mexico; [email protected] (R.A.H.-H.); [email protected] (L.E.H.-C.); [email protected] (E.S.-R.) Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT)—Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Área Académica de Ciencias de la Tierra y Materiales, Carretera Pachuca—Tulancingo, Km 4.5 s/n, Mineral de la Reforma, Hidalgo C.P. 42184, Mexico; [email protected] Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +52-771-717-2000 (ext. 2297) Academic Editor: William Skinner Received: 3 May 2016; Accepted: 15 June 2016; Published: 24 June 2016 Abstract: Kaolin is important because it has many applications in the paper, paint-coating, functional filler, extender and pigment industries. This material needs to be bleached by iron leaching to be useful for these applications because this element can be the principal cause of its undesirable coloration. In this work, the kinetics of leaching of iron contained in kaolin clays from the community of Agua Blanca Iturbide, Hidalgo, Mexico, was studied. The leaching experiments were carried out using phosphoric acid as the reagent of leaching for the iron dissolution process. Temperature, acid concentration, and particle size were investigated to determine the most important kinetics parameters during iron leaching. It was determined that the rate of iron dissolution increases with increasing of phosphoric acid concentration, the temperature, and decreased particle size of clay. Data obtained showed that iron dissolution from kaolin clay is due to the diffusion of iron through the product layer. The results revealed that the activation energy of the process was 10.18 kJ¨ mol´1 . Keywords: iron; leaching; kaolinitic clay; kinetics; phosphoric acid 1. Introduction The term kaolin has a different meaning to geologists, mineralogists, and ceramists. To geologists, is a rock comprised primarily of one of the kaolin groups of clay minerals. To mineralogists, the term refers to the group for the kaolin minerals; namely kaolinite, halloysite, dickite, and nacrite. To ceramists, the term is synonymous with “china clay” meaning that it is a white ceramic raw material. Industrially, the term refers to a clay consisting of substantially pure kaolinite, or related clay minerals. They are of natural origin, or can be beneficiated to reach white or nearly white color. Its beneficiation by known methods is desirable to make it suitable for use in a white product such as paper, rubbers, paints, etc. [1,2]. Clays possess organic matter, generally lignite, as well as other colloidal minerals that confer them its characteristic colors. The red clays have ferric oxide, in minerals such as hematite, magnetite, and amorphous hydrated oxides, among others. Iron is the main contaminant in minerals of clay and kaolin. The removal of the iron from kaolin is of particular importance in the paper industry, among others, where purity requirements are high. In these minerals, iron may or may not form part the kaolinite crystalline lattice. When iron is inside the lattice, low concentrations do not affect coloration [3]. The iron oxyhydroxides are often deposited along with the kaolinite, contaminating Minerals 2016, 6, 60; doi:10.3390/min6030060 www.mdpi.com/journal/minerals Minerals 2016, 6, 60 2 of 8 and making much of the kaolin unusable for commercial applications due to the leaking of whiteness. On the other hand, other secondary minerals accompanying the clay and kaolin such as hematite, maghemite, and pyrite, iron can be removed by magnetic separation [4,5]. According to Mexican Geological Service studies, the kaolin reserves in the state of Hidalgo exceed 25 million tons; those of the neighboring states of Puebla and Veracruz are unquantified. Conduct leaching studies for bleaching kaolin in this region opens the way to applied research with the aim that in the medium term can be an impetus for the economic development of these localities currently considered to be in high poverty. Different inorganic and organic acids or complexing reagents have been used in the dissolution of iron from these kinds of kaolin minerals. Most of these are focused on the mechanism of dissolution on hematite and magnetite, testing different acids and experimental conditions [6,7]. Different researchers have used oxalic acid for the dissolution of iron in the kaolin [6–10]. Early works, phosphoric acid was reported as leaching iron in kaolin clay [11]. Similarly, the influence of phosphoric acid in iron removal from quartz sand bleaching was also studied [12]. Also, statistical analysis was conducted to determine the most influential factors in the dissolution with organics acids used as a leaching reagent to remove iron from a kaolin mineral [13,14]. Recently, the general concepts and fundamentals of the biological dissolution of iron from kaolin clays had been studied by Hosseini et al. [15]. Among the organic and inorganic acids [6–13,16], the biological beneficiation, [15,17,18] a combination of both [19–21] and the anionic surfactants, the first are the most common reagents to remove iron oxides and oxyhydroxides contained in kaolin clay [22]. However, goethite species have been removed with anionic surfactants, increasing the whiteness index [23]. The advantages of using phosphoric acid as the leaching agent if compared with other acids are: the whiteness index that is achieved is higher, they have rapid dilution in water, and simple operation as well as ease of adding directly to the pulp. Bioleaching is an environmentally friendly method and it is also an alternative; however, bacteria are usually quite sensitive to changes in the environment in which they develop. It is crucial to consider some factors such as atmosphere, temperature, and pH which leads to a more complex process. Considerable attention has been to the studies of mechanisms of dissolution, which employ synthetic minerals such as hematite, goethite, and magnetite and ignoring the complex interactions that can take place in iron dissolution from industrial minerals such as kaolin. The contribution of kinetics data for industrial-use minerals like kaolin clays it is of high importance as they are clays with complex interactions, variable iron content, and in other words very different each other due to the different geological origin they have. The kinetic data for the iron extraction from kaolin clay using phosphoric acid are very important for industrial applications such as the supply of raw material for the industry of paper and the ceramic. The aim of this work was to examine the iron leaching kinetics from kaolin clay using phosphoric acid solutions. 2. Experimental For performing the experiments, Kaolin from the city of Agua Blanca Iturbide, Hidalgo State, Mexico, was used. This mineral was firstly grinded and classified by particle size. For the experimental procedure, particles of average size of 35 µm were used. To characterize the mineral samples (Mineralogy and composition) X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) were used. The leaching experiments were carried out in a round bottom reactor (500 mL) with mechanical stirring and constant temperature. The temperature was regulated with a thermo-regulator, which is part of the equipment. In the leaching tests at 94 ˝ C, the reactor, equipped with a thermometer and a reflux condenser, was heated with a thermostatically controlled heating mantle. All leaching tests were made at atmospheric pressure for 120 min. Two different experiments were carried out. Firstly, the effect of the concentration (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 3.0 M) of the phosphoric acid at a fixed temperature of 367.15 K (94 ˝ C) was evaluated, adding the kaolin to the solution. Secondly, the acid concentration was fixed at 3.0 M varying the temperature in 3. Results and Discussion The results found through mineralogical and chemical analysis of the kaolin are shown in Table 1, Figures 1 and 2. The chemical composition is shown in Table 1. The values of SiO2, Al2O3 and low contents of Fe3O4, indicates that this material has an ideal composition for the leaching kinetic Minerals 2016, 6, 60 3 of 8 study. Figure 1 shows the X-ray diffraction spectrum; for (a) natural kaolin mineral and (b) leached kaolin; upon a comparison of both diffractograms, it is possible to appreciate the reduction of the between 273 353oxyhydroxide K. For both experiments, thepeak pH was kept constant at 1.0 adding small amounts compound ofto iron (FH). A major corresponding to kaolinite can be appreciated, of saturated NH4 OH or H2in SOthe solutions. Early works confirmed that optimum dissolution rate is with minor signals of silica forms of quartz and tridymite. 4 at a pH value of 1, approximately [1]. The progress of extraction reaction was carried out by taking Table 1.the Chemical Analysisand of the kaolinfor sample. samples from solution throughout experiments, testing Fe content by atomic absorption spectrometry. Variations in the mass balance due to the sampling take and the addition of reagent Components wt % were taken into account for the calculations. SiO2 65.00 Al2O3 27.00 3. Results and Discussion Fe3O4 0.70 The results found through mineralogical analysis of the kaolin are shown in Table 1, CaO and chemical 0.04 Figures 1 and 2. The chemical composition is shown in Table MgO 0.57 1. The values of SiO2 , Al2 O3 and low contents of Fe3 O4 , indicates that this material has an ideal composition for the leaching kinetic study. Na2O 2.65 Figure 1 shows the X-ray diffraction spectrum; K2O for (a) natural 2.42 kaolin mineral and (b) leached kaolin; upon a comparison of both diffractograms, it is possible to appreciate the reduction of the compound TiO2 0.67 of iron oxyhydroxide (FH). A major peakLIO* corresponding0.95 to kaolinite can be appreciated, with minor signals of silica in the forms of quartz and tridymite. LIO* = Loss of ignition. FH= [99-200-3045] HFeO2 Iron oxide hydroxide K= [99-101-0871] Al2Si2O9H4 Kaolinite K K K K a) K K K K Q K K FH FH Q K K K K FH b) 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 2 Theta −1 Figure kaolin mineral mineral and and (b) (b) leached leached kaolin kaolin at at373 373K, K,3.0 3.0mol¨ mol·L Figure 1. 1. X-ray X-ray diffractogram diffractogram of of (a) (a) kaolin L´1 of of phosphoric acid, pH 1.0, and average particle size of 35 μm. phosphoric acid, pH 1.0, and average particle size of 35 µm. Minerals 2016, 6, 60 4 of 8 3.0 M 1.0 M 0.5 M 0.1 M 100 Fe Diffusion (%) 80 60 40 20 0 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Time (Min) Figure 2. Effects of phosphoric acid molar concentration in Fe diffusion through time (0.10, 0.50, 1.01.0 Figure 2. Effects of phosphoric acid molar concentration in Fe diffusion through time (0.10, 0.50, andand 3.03.0 M)M) (pH 1.0, 373 K, 35 μm). (pH 1.0, 373 K, 35 µm). For this work, the phosphoric acid has been used as leaching reagent due to their theoretical advantage for this use. Regarding the iron leaching, hydrogen ions play an important role in the dissolution of iron oxides with inorganic acids. The H3PO4 in solution provides H+, that reacts with iron oxide, and the possible reaction according Zhang et al. [12], might be: 6H + + Fe 2 O 3 → 2Fe 3+ + 3H 2 O (1) These hydrogen ions are adsorbed on the activated surface of the iron oxyhydroxide species. Minerals 2016, 6, 60 4 of 8 Table 1. Chemical Analysis of the kaolin sample. Components wt % SiO2 Al2 O3 Fe3 O4 CaO MgO Na2 O K2 O TiO2 LIO* 65.00 27.00 0.70 0.04 0.57 2.65 2.42 0.67 0.95 LIO* = Loss of ignition. For this work, the phosphoric acid has been used as leaching reagent due to their theoretical advantage for this use. Regarding the iron leaching, hydrogen ions play an important role in the dissolution of iron oxides with inorganic acids. The H3 PO4 in solution provides H+ , that reacts with iron oxide, and the possible reaction according Zhang et al. [12], might be: 6H` ` Fe2 O3 Ñ 2Fe3` ` 3H2 O (1) These hydrogen ions are adsorbed on the activated surface of the iron oxyhydroxide species. The hydrogen ions are adsorbed on sites of the solid surface, thus creating a surface of active centers on which the main reaction of dissolution takes place. As the hydrogen ion concentration in the solution increases, the amount of adsorbed hydrogen ions also increases, according to the adsorption theory. An increase in the number of active centers results in a corresponding increase in the dissolution rate [3]. The H3 PO4 not only provides more H+ ions (pKa1 = 2.12), which will react with iron oxide; but also provides PO4 3´ ions, which are produced while the H+ is being ionized, and also have a larger complexing ability to iron ions. All these features lead to high leaching percentages of the H3 PO4 . The possible reaction according to Zhang et al. [12], might be: 8H` ` 4PO4 3´ ` Fe2 O3 Ñ rFe pHPO4 q2 s´ ` rFe pPO4 q2 s3´ ` 3H2 O (2) These multiple synergisms of the H3 PO4 , lead to the best leaching results [2]. 4. Kinetic Study The results obtained during kinetics study of iron extraction, are related with the effect of phosphoric acid concentration and temperature in the range 298 to 367 K and were treated with the shrinking core model, for heterogeneous reactions both for diffusive and chemical control. Extraction of iron from kaolin clay can be explained with the shrinking core model [4], in which: aAFluid ` bBParticle Ñ Product (3) If diffusion controls the reaction rate through an inert product layer, the integrated rate equation is as follows: 2 2 1 ´ X ´ p1 ´ Xq 3 “ Kd t (4) 3 The above equation represents the shrinking core model for diffusive control. Additionally, if the reaction is controlled by a chemical reaction, Equation (4) is transformed to Equation (5) [24]. 1 1 ´ p1 ´ Xq 3 “ Kc t (5) Minerals 2016, 6, 60 5 of 8 where X is the fraction that has reacted, t is the reaction time and Kd and Kc are the rate constants, which are calculated from Equations (4) and (5), respectively. Minerals 2016, 6, 60 5 of 8 5. Effect of the Acid Concentration whereInXorder is thetofraction reacted, t is the reaction time and Kin Kc areofthe rate constants, d and observethat the has effect of phosphoric acid concentration the range 0.10, 0.50, 1.0 and which are calculated from Equations (4) and (5), respectively. 3.0 M, experiments were performed in the temperatures ranging of 298 to 367 K. The results are shown in Figure 2. It shows that increasing phosphoric acid concentration increases the iron 5. Effect of the Acid Concentration dissolution rate in the kaolin clay, especially in lower concentrations. In to observe thethat effect phosphoric concentration the range 1.0 and It order was also observed theofleaching rateacid of iron at 1.0 M isinhigher thanofat0.10, 0.100.50, M; the iron 3.0 M, experiments were performed in the temperatures ranging of 298 to 367 K. The results are shown extractions were of 98.65% and 19.81%, respectively. in Figure It shows thatinincreasing concentration increasesstudy the iron rate The 2. results found this studyphosphoric are in goodacid accordance with another [2], dissolution where the high in the kaolin clay, especially in lower concentrations. efficiency of iron removal was reported; but unlike our study, this work was carried out in quartz It was observedacid. that the leaching rate of iron at 1.0 M is higher than at 0.10 M; the iron sands, usingalso phosphoric extractions were of rate 98.65% and 19.81%, respectively. The apparent constants Kd, and Kc obtained from Equations (4) and (5), and the regression The results found in this study are in good accordance with anotherThe study [2], where the high4 coefficients, were calculated from the graph at each concentration. graph of Equation efficiency iron straight removallines waswith reported; butregression unlike our study, this carried out in quartz (Figure 3a)ofyield a global coefficient R2 work equal was to 0.99 for phosphoric acid sands, using phosphoric acid. concentrations of 3.0 M. The Figure 3b displays the graph of the Equation (5), it exhibits straight lines apparent rate constants Kd , andthan Kc obtained from Equations (4) and (5), andlinearity. the regression withThe a regression coefficient R2 higher 0.98 showing a slight deviation from These coefficients, were calculated at each concentration. Theis graph of Equation (4) values of regression coefficientfrom showthe thatgraph iron dissolution from kaolin clay, controlled by diffusion 2 equal to 0.99 for phosphoric acid (Figure 3a) yield straight lines with a global regression coefficient R through an inert product layer. concentrations of 3.0 M. The 3b displays the graphaccording of the Equation (5), it exhibits straight The obtained slopes forFigure the graph were calculated to the model 1 − (2X/3) − (1 − lines X)2/3, 2 with regression coefficient higher than 0.98 a as slight from linearity. values fromawhich a graph of log(KRd) vs. log[PO 43−] wasshowing obtained candeviation be seen further in FigureThese 4. A straight of regression coefficient show that iron dissolution from kaolin clay, is controlled by diffusion through line from this graph gave a slope from where was calculated a reaction order of n = 0.168, according an inertEquation product (4) layer. to the and that is shown in Figure 3. 0.8 3.0 M 1.0 M 0.5 M 0.1 M 0.6 3.0 M 1.0 M 0.5 M 0.1 M 0.30 0.25 Model 1-(1-X)1/3 Model 1-(2X/3)-(1-X) 2/3 0.7 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.20 0.15 0.10 0.05 0.00 0.0 10 20 30 40 Time (min) (a) 50 60 10 20 30 40 50 60 Time (min) (b) Figure 3. Graph of 1 − (2X/3) − (1 − X)2/3 (a) and 1 − (1 − X)2/3 (b) vs. time for the iron dissolution from Figure 3. Graph of 1 ´ (2X/3) ´ (1 ´ X)2/3 (a) and 1 ´ (1 ´ X)2/3 (b) vs. time for the iron dissolution kaolin clayclay at different acid(0.10, (0.10, 0.50, 3.0(pH M)1.0, (pH from kaolin at differentconcentrations concentrationsof of phosphoric phosphoric acid 0.50, 1.0 1.0 and and 3.0 M) 3731.0, K, 373 K, 35 μm). 35 µm). 6. Effect of Temperature The obtained slopes for the graph were calculated according to the model 1 ´ (2X/3) ´ (1 ´ X)2/3 , ´ ] temperature aim ofof determining effect4 3of kinetics of further the ironinextraction, from With whichthe a graph log(Kd ) vs. the log[PO was obtainedinasthe can be seen Figure 4. several experiments in an acid gave solution 0.3 M were performed, varying athe temperature in nthe range A straight line from this graph a slope from where was calculated reaction order of = 0.168, from 298 to 373 K. Typical rate curves with a strong temperature dependence were found. It denoted according to the Equation (4) and that is shown in Figure 3. a very slow rate in the temperature range of 273 to 353 K exhibiting a very strong growth rate above 353 K. This suggests that it is reasonable to use temperatures above 353 K. That means that iron dissolution using phosphoric acid could be thermally activated to improve its efficiency. The results in Table 2 show that iron dissolution from kaolin clay in the temperature range of 298 to 373 K, fit well with the diffusion through an inert product layer model shown in Equation (4). corresponding regression coefficients were calculated from the graph at each temperature tested. These values were treated with Equation 4, and the resulting data is shown in Figure 4. The analysis of these graph revealed straight lines for 298, 313, 333, 353 and 373 K with regression coefficients (R2) of around 0.99 in average. It is important to mention that the results obtained from the graph of the temperature effect were also analyzed by chemical control model (Equation (5)) and the data did not Minerals 60 this model. Therefore, it can be dismissed that the controlling stage being the chemical 6 of 8 fit2016, well6,with reaction [25]. -2.20 -2.25 Log Kd -2.30 -2.35 -2.40 -2.45 -2.50 1.8 2.1 2.4 2.7 3.0 3.3 3.6 Log[PO-3 ]/mol L-1 4 Figure 4. Graph of log(Kd) vs. log[PO43−]/mol·L−1 showing the order of reaction of n = 0.168. Figure 4. Graph of log(Kd ) vs. log[PO4 3´ ]/mol¨ L´1 showing the order of reaction of n = 0.168. The apparent rate constants, Kd, for iron dissolution were calculated from the slopes in the graph 6. Effect of Temperature of Figure 5. On the other hand, a graph was made, showing the variation of lnKd vs. 1000/T where T is thethe temperature in the rangethe of 298 to 373 K and from which theof straight lineextraction, shown in the With aim of determining effect of temperature in theyields kinetics the iron several 2 was 0.99. The apparent activation energy calculated from the Figure 6. The regression coefficient R experiments in an acid solution 0.3 M were performed, varying the temperature in the range from Arrhenius plot was, 10.18 kJ·mol−1. This result confirmed that iron dissolution from the kaolin clay is 298 to 373 K. Typical rate curves with a strong temperature dependence were found. It denoted a very controlled by diffusion through an inert product layer. In fact, this low energy is considered within slow rate in the temperature range of 273 to 353 K exhibiting a very strong growth rate above 353 K. the stated range for the controlling step of diffusion through a layer of products (below This suggests 20 kJ·mol−1that ) [6].it is reasonable to use temperatures above 353 K. That means that iron dissolution using phosphoric acid could be thermally activated to improve its efficiency. The results in Table 2 show that iron dissolution from kaolin clay in the temperature range of 298 to 373 K, fit well with the diffusion through an inert product layer model shown in Equation (4). Table 2. Kd and Kc values and regression coefficients found for each temperature for a 3.0 M concentration of phosphoric acid is displayed with an average size of 35 µm. Temperature (K) Kd ˆ 10´3 (s´1 ) R2 Kc ˆ 10´3 (s´1 ) R2 298 313 33 353 373 2.70 3.30 4.30 5.40 6.00 0.995 0.999 0.990 0.993 0.997 6.70 7.60 9.20 11.80 13.40 0.980 0.992 0.981 0.993 0.997 The apparent rate constants, Kd and Kc obtained from Equations (4) and (5) and their corresponding regression coefficients were calculated from the graph at each temperature tested. These values were treated with Equation 4, and the resulting data is shown in Figure 4. The analysis of these graph revealed straight lines for 298, 313, 333, 353 and 373 K with regression coefficients (R2 ) of around 0.99 in average. It is important to mention that the results obtained from the graph of the temperature effect were also analyzed by chemical control model (Equation (5)) and the data did not fit well with this model. Therefore, it can be dismissed that the controlling stage being the chemical reaction [25]. The apparent rate constants, Kd , for iron dissolution were calculated from the slopes in the graph of Figure 5. On the other hand, a graph was made, showing the variation of lnKd vs. 1000/T where T is the temperature in the range of 298 to 373 K and from which yields the straight line shown in the Figure 6. The regression coefficient R2 was 0.99. The apparent activation energy calculated from the Arrhenius plot was, 10.18 kJ¨ mol´1 . This result confirmed that iron dissolution from the kaolin clay is controlled by diffusion through an inert product layer. In fact, this low energy is considered within the stated range for the controlling step of diffusion through a layer of products (below 20 kJ¨ mol´1 ) [6]. Minerals 2016, 6, 60 7 of 8 Minerals 2016, 6, 60 7 of 8 Minerals 2016, 6, 60 7 of 8 0,35 373K 353K 333K 373K 313K 353K 293K 333K 313K 293K 0,35 0,30 2/3 1-(2X/3)-(1-X) ModelModel 1-(2X/3)-(1-X) 2/3 0,30 0,25 0,25 0,20 0,20 0,15 0,15 0,10 0,10 0,05 0,05 0,00 10 0,00 10 20 30 20 30 40 Time (Minutes) 40 50 60 50 60 70 70 Timefor (Minutes) Figure 5. Graph of 1 − (2X/3) − (1 − X)2/3 vs. time iron dissolution from kaolin clay at different 2/3 vs. time for iron dissolution from kaolin clay at different Figure 5. Graph of 1(298–373 ´ (2X/3) ´ (1 ´ X) temperatures (3.0 mol·L of2/3 phosphoric acid, 1.0, 35 μm). Figure 5. Graph of 1 −K)(2X/3) − (1 −−1 X) vs. time for ironpH dissolution from kaolin clay at different ´1 temperatures (298–373 K) (3.0 mol¨ L of phosphoric acid, pH 1.0, 35 µm). temperatures (298–373 K) (3.0 mol·L−1 of phosphoric acid, pH 1.0, 35 μm). -1 -1 (min d LnKLnK (min ) ) d -5.5 -5.5 -5.6 Ea=10.18KJ mol-1 -5.6 -5.7 Ea=10.18KJ R2=0.9912 mol-1 -5.7 -5.8 R2=0.9912 -5.8 -5.9 -5.9 -6.0 -6.0 -6.1 -6.1 -6.2 -6.2 -6.3 -6.3 -6.4 -6.4 -6.5 -6.52.4 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 3.0 3.1 1000/T (K-1) 1000/T (K-1) 3.0 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.6 Figure 6. Graph of the iron dissolution from kaolin clay (298–373 K), 3.0 M of phosphoric acid, and 35 μm. Figure 6. Graph of the iron dissolution from kaolin clay (298–373 K), 3.0 M of phosphoric acid, and 35 μm. Figure 6. Graph of the iron dissolution from kaolin clay (298–373 K), 3.0 M of phosphoric acid, and 35 µm. 7. Conclusions 7. Conclusions In this work, the kinetics of iron dissolution from kaolin clay in phosphoric acid solution was 7. Conclusions In this work, the kinetics of iron dissolution from kaolin clay in phosphoric acid solution was studied. The results showed that the temperature, concentration of phosphoric acid, and particle size, studied. The results showed that the temperature, concentration of phosphoric acid, and particle size, of importance for the determination of the reaction effect of In were this work, the kinetics of iron dissolution from kaolinkinetics. clay in Importantly, phosphoricthe acid solution was were of importance for the determination of the reaction kinetics. Importantly, the effect of onshowed iron dissolution is temperature, more significantconcentration at 94 °C. Also, the iron dissolution increased with studied.temperature The results that the of phosphoric acid, and particle size, temperature on iron dissolution is more significant at 94 °C. Also, the iron dissolution increased with acid and temperature. Leaching data showed that the iron dissolution from were of phosphoric importance forconcentration the determination of the reaction kinetics. Importantly, the effect offrom temperature phosphoric acid concentration and temperature. Leaching data showed that the iron dissolution kaolin clay occurs by diffusion through the product layer, showing an order of reaction n = 0.168. ˝ kaolin clay occurs by diffusion through showing an orderincreased of reaction with n = 0.168. on iron dissolution is more significant at 94theC.product Also, layer, the iron dissolution phosphoric Finally, the activation energy of the process was found to be 10.18 kJ·mol−1−1. Finally, the activation energy of the process was found to be 10.18 . dissolution from kaolin clay acid concentration and temperature. Leaching data showed that kJ·mol the iron Acknowledgments: The authors to thank the CONACyT FOMIX HGO ofof thereaction México Government for Finally, their occurs by diffusion through the want product layer, showing an order n = 0.168. the Acknowledgments: The authors want to thank the CONACyT FOMIX HGO of the México Government for their financial support to project 192265. ´ 1 activation energy of the process was found to be 10.18 kJ¨ mol . financial support to project 192265. Author contributions: Roman A. Hernández-Hernández performed the experiments as part of the doctoral thesis Author contributions: Roman A. Hernández-Hernández performed the experiments as part of the doctoral thesis work, Felipe Legorreta-García performed the chemical and crystallographic analysis, Leticia E. Hernández-Cruz Acknowledgments: The authors want to thank the CONACyT FOMIX HGO of the México Government for their work, Felipe Legorreta-García performed the chemical and crystallographic analysis, Leticia E. Hernández-Cruz Edgar to A. project Chavez-Urbiola wrote the paper and Eleazar Salinas-Rodríguez advised for the kinetic studies. financialand support 192265. and Edgar A. Chavez-Urbiola wrote the paper and Eleazar Salinas-Rodríguez advised for the kinetic studies. Conflicts The declare Author Contributions: Roman A. Hernández-Hernández performed the experiments as part of the doctoral thesis ConflictsofofInterest: Interest: Theauthors authors declare no no conflict conflict of of interest. interest. work, Felipe Legorreta-García performed the chemical and crystallographic analysis, Leticia E. Hernández-Cruz and Edgar A. Chavez-Urbiola wrote the paper and Eleazar Salinas-Rodríguez advised for the kinetic studies. 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