Authors : M. Oswaldo Bustamante, Andrés Mauricio Muñoz, Luis Fernando Duque Gomez and Martin Eduardo Espitia Nery
Abstract: The objective of this study is to present the methodology and results of the study of chemical bleaching process of kaolin from potentiometric measurements in experimental systems. The bleaching of four kaolin samples, from La Union municipality in the department of Antioquia (Colombia) was studied at laboratory level, considering as main variables, the reducing agent percentage involved (Sodium Dithionite, Na2S2O4) and the process time. The Electrochemical potential (Eh) and pH of the system were evaluated with a 692 pH/Ion Meter Metrohm equipment, the amount of dissolved iron as Fe3+ measured at the end of each test using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) and the whiteness index calculated by Calorimetry. The Electrochemical potential (Eh) variation of the system, the changes in Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio with the increase concentration of reducing agent as well as the variation of whiteness index W (Whiteness %) with processing time are a first approach to the understanding of bleaching kaolin phenomenology.
M. Oswaldo Bustamante, Andrés Mauricio Muñoz, Luis Fernando Duque Gomez and Martin Eduardo Espitia Nery, 2020. Study of Electrometalurgical Parameters of the Kaolin Bleaching Process. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 15: 2723-2727.