A Taguchi Optimization Study about the Dissolution of Colemanite in Ammonium Bisulfate (NH۴HSO۴) Solution

In this study, the optimum conditions of the dissolution of colemanite (۲CaO.۳B۲O۳.۵H۲O) ore in ammonium bisulfate (NH۴HSO۴) solution were examined by using Taguchi fractional design methods, and an alternative reactant for boric acid extraction process from colemanite ore was specified. The studied parameters and optimum conditions for the dissolution process were the following; reaction temperature: ۵۰˚C, solid/liquid ratio: ۰.۱ g/mL, particle size: -۸۰ mesh, mixing speed: ۶۰۰ rpm, and reaction time: ۲۵ minutes. Particle size, mixing speed, and reaction time had the most significant effect on dissolution when compared to the others. Accordingly, the dissolution efficiency of colemanite was found to be ۹۹.۵۴% under optimum conditions and using NH۴HSO۴ as a solvent enabled the selective separation of boron from the colemanite ore. The ammonium sulphate formed as a by-product was converted into NH۴HSO۴ by the addition of the appropriate stoichiometric amount of sulfuric acid and fed back into the dissolution vessel.

کلیدواژه ها:

Colemanite ، Ammonium bisulfate ، dissolution ، Optimization ، Taguchi method