Extraction of alumina and silica from highsilica bauxite by sintering ...
1 Introduction . Silica is a major impurity in bauxite ores, which is commonly present as quartz (SiO 2) and phyllosilicate minerals such as kaolinite (Al 4 [Si 4 O 10](OH) 8), illite (K x Al 4 Si 8−x Al x O 20 (OH) 2) and pyrophyllite (Al 2 [Si 4 O 10](OH) 2). 1,2 When producing alumina from bauxite using the Bayer process, the reactive silica is transformed into insoluble sodium ...