In this research, iron removal from silica used in glass industry was investigated using agitated leaching method. Silica sample was provided from silica concentrate originating from Chalchoog Silica Mine located in Abhar, Iran. The sample contained silica, iron oxides and clay minerals. For characterization of samples XRD and XRF analysis and atomic absorption method were applied. Silica and iron oxide (Fe2O3) grade of head sample was 98.41 per cent and 0.067 per cent respectively. Two inorganic acids (sulfuric and hydrochloric acid) were used in agitated leaching tests. Two series of L9 orthogonal array of Taguchi design with replication were used to determine the effect of parameters including acid dosage, leaching duration, ambient temperature and solid content on iron removal. The statistical calculations and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were carried out by means of DX7.0, Minitab14.0 and Winrobust1.02 softwares and also statistical calculations were checked manually using Excel software. Also multivariate regression was applied in order to forecast Fe2O3 conent of final product._x000D_
The optimum conditions for leaching tests which sulfuric acid was employed are as follows: 40minutes leaching time, temperature of 85C, 40 g/L acid concentration and solid content of 20per cent. Under this condition the amount of iron oxide in silica was decreased to 0.042 per cent._x000D_
The optimum conditions for leaching tests which hydrochloric acid was employed are as follows: 80minutes leaching time, temperature of 75C, 30 g/L acid concentration and solid content of 20per cent. Under this condition the amount of iron oxide in silica was decreased to 0.035 per cent._x000D_
CITATION:Haghi, H, Ghadyani, A and Faramarzi, M, 2010. Application of agitated leaching for iron removal from silica using sulfuric and hydrochloric acid, in Proceedings XXV International Mineral Processing Congress (IMPC) 2010, pp 325-334 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).