Abstract
Silicate rocks (mica, feldspar, glauconite, and sericite) having potash values of 7–11% are evaluated as an alternative potash source. Direct leaching of the feed sample in different lixiviants yielded very less potash extraction (1–5%). Heat treatment with suitable flux such as calcium chloride resulted in 100% potash recovery from mica and glauconite, whereas it was limited to 71% and 65% for feldspar and sericite. The activation energy for CaCl2 reaction with mica, feldspar, glauconite, and sericite is 64.35, 70.14, 69.17 and 86.63 kJ/mol. K – extraction is a function of silica-alumina ratio and association of K – bearing phase.
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