Optimization of alkali leaching–mixed acid leaching using response surface methodology for removing metallic impurities from quartz
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1
Guangxi Key Laboratory for Polysaccharide Materials and Modifications, Guangxi Minzu University, Nanning 530006, PR China
2
Institute of New Functional Materials, Guangxi Institute of Industrial Technology, Nanning 530022, China
3
Guangxi Gangqiao New Building Materials Co., Ltd.
Publication date: 2026-02-10
Corresponding author
Lihong Lan
Guangxi Key Laboratory for Polysaccharide Materials and Modifications, Guangxi Minzu University, Nanning 530006, PR China
Physicochem. Probl. Miner. Process. 2026;62(1):217880
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ABSTRACT
In this study, we employed a synergistic process combining alkaline leaching pretreatment with mixed acid leaching to purify quartz sand and efficiently eliminate metallic impurities. First, systematic single-factor optimization was used to determine the optimal alkaline leaching parameters to be a NaOH concentration of 8%, a reaction time of 2 h, and a temperature of 225℃. After alkaline leaching, a porous and loose structure was formed on the quartz surface, along with a large number of cracks and pits, which significantly enhanced the mass transfer efficiency of the subsequent acid leaching. Based on this, a ternary mixed acid system (H3PO4-H2SO4-H2C2O4) was used for pressure leaching. The acid leaching process parameters were optimized using response surface methodology, which determined the optimal conditions to be a temperature of 249℃, a solid–liquid ratio of 1:5, and a time of 6 h. After treating the quartz sand with the combined process, the sand’s total metallic impurity content was significantly reduced from the initial 523.2 mg/kg to 82.6 mg/kg, which amounts to an overall removal rate of as high as 84.33%. The contents of Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, and Ti were 50.4, 8.1, 2.2, 6.9, 2.3, 11.5, and 1.2 mg/kg, respectively.