Improve Kaolin Whiteness
The whiteness of Kaolin depends upon the impurity it is contaminated with. As said already, crude Kaolin is generally contaminated with impurities Iron, Titania, Hydroxides, Feldspar, Quartz and Mica. The whiteness of Kaolin clay can be improved by processing it. Beneficiation plays a vital role in improving the whiteness of the Kaolin. The first and foremost step in implementing a successful beneficiation process is to find out the geological origin of the clay. There are two types of Kaolin Clay
1. Primary or Residual
2. Secondary or Sedimentary
Primary or Residual Kaolin is an ore originated from the in situ alteration of metamorphic rocks from hydrothermal or weathering process. Sedimentary or Secondary Kaolin is ore formed through sedimentary depositional processes. These secondary kaolin ores are formed after deposition of particles transported by water flows. During transportation, particles are sorted by size and composition, and become more rounded and hence the Sedimentary Kaolin is more fine grained and aggregated when compared to the Residual Kaolin. Hence the origin of Kaolin influences the beneficiation process method to choose. So the first step to implement a beneficiation process is to find out the Kaolin Origin type.
To be Contd…
