EXTRACTION OF ALUMINIUM TO PRODUCE FILTER ALUM FROM FLINT CLAY

Abstract

This study deals with the preparation of filter alum from Iraqi flint clay and sulfuric acid to study the effect of sulfuric acid concentration, time, ratio of sulfuric acid and clay in order to obtain best operating variables process and optimal conversion value. The optimum preparation process involves activating the flint clay by the calcination process at 750 °C for 1 hour and then dissolved by sulfuric acid (30 wt. %) for 2 hours at boiling temperature depending on the required amount for reaction. Alum (Al2 (SO4)3.XH2O) is then obtained in two ways: 1. Evaporation and crystallization 2. Precipitation using ethanol. The chemical properties of the alum have been determined by X-Ray and chemical analysis. The purity of prepared alum (95%) is able to work very well as a coagulant in water treatment processes. .