ANALYTICAL STUDIES OF IRON ORE AND PHOSPHATE ROCKS
ANALYTICAL STUDIES OF IRON ORE AND PHOSPHATE ROCKS
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Date
1980-10
Authors
MUSA YAR' ADUA, UMARU
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Abstract
The analytical study of iron ore sample of the Agbaja
plateau in Kwara state and phosphate rock samples from
Togo, Senegal, Niger Republic and an indigenous rock from
Sokoto state was carried out with a view to evaluating the
grade of the iron ore sample for the manufacture of steel,
and the suitability of the phosphate rock samples for the
manufacture of phosphatic fertilizers, with particular
reference to the wet process phosphoric acid production.
The analysis of the iron ore sample included the estimation
of SiO2, Fe2O3, AL203, P2O5 and S. The estimation was carried
out in two parts: a systematic gravimetric and photometric
determination involving the use of ion-exchange separations,
and individual determinations of other elements by specific
methods on separate portions of the sample.
In the systematic portion of the analysis, Si02, Fe2O3 and
Al2O3 were estimated in one and the same portion of the
sample. The sample solution was prepared by fusion with Na2O2.
The melt was taken up rith HC1 and the silica determined by
the double dehydration method. The filtrate from the separation
and determination of silica was subjected to anion exchange
separation. Two fractions wore /collected for iron and
aluminium: the total iron in the sample was determined
gravimetrically by precipitation with ammonia and alumina
was estimated colorimetrically by measuring the colour of
the oxinate in chloroform.
In the non-systematic portion of the analysis, P3O5 and S
were estimated on separate portions of the sample. For the
estimation of P2O5, the iron ore sample was decomposed by
digestion with HNO3 and HF, and then fusing the insoluble
residue with Na2CO3,. The P2O5 was then determined colorimetrically
by the molybdovanadophosphoric acid method. In the
determination of sulphur, the sample solution was prepared
by fusion of the sample with a mixture of Na2CO3, and Na2O2
and the sulphur precipitated and weighed as BaSO4.
The results obtained reveal that the ore is rich in iron
(72% Fe2O3 , with tolerable amounts of silica (6.32% SiO2) ,
P2O5 (2.77%) and S (0.13%) for steel manufacture. It is
however found to be high in alumina (7.60% Al2O3).
The analysis of the phosphate rock samples involved the
determination of moisture, total P2O5, SiO2, Fe2O3, Al2O3,
F- and CaO.
Moisture and P2O5 were estimated in one and the same portion
of the sample. The moisture was estimated by loss on ignition
at 1100C, after which the dried sample was decomposed by
Description
A Thesis Presented to the
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF
MASTER OF SCIENCE
IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Keywords
ANALYTICAL,, IRON ORE,, PHOSPHATE ROCKS