Quartz Ore Beneficiation by Reverse Flotation for Silicon Production
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ORIGINAL PAPER
Quartz Ore Beneficiation by Reverse Flotation for Silicon Production Sidali Medjahed 1 & Abdelkrim Kheloufi 1 & Ema Bobocioiu 2 & Aissa Kefaifi 1 & Fouad Kerkar 1 & Kheirreddine Lebbou 3 Received: 11 August 2020 / Accepted: 14 October 2020 # Springer Nature B.V. 2020
Abstract In this work the reverse flotation as beneficiation process for high-purity silica valorization from Draissa quartz deposits (Algeria) is studied as a potential raw material for photovoltaic silicon production and starting charge for crystal growth material for a large wide of applications such laser and scintillation. The samples are investigated by optical microscopy, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy. The microscopic investigations detect solid impurities such as alkaline and plagioclase feldspars, micas and iron oxides. The analyzed silica shows well-developed crystals areas, delimited by microcrystalline regions. Impurities are predominantly located in low quartz granulometry (50-100 μm). The XRF results highlight 93.63 wt% SiO2, 0.16 wt%, Fe2O3, 0.171 wt% Cl, 0.15 wt% CaO, 5.74 wt% Al2O3, 0.074 wt% K2O, 0.001 wt% CdO, 0.006 wt% SnO2. However, these results remain insufficient for predestined use of this raw material. A preliminary enrichment using reverse flotation process improves the silica purity up to 99.6% and removes the major impurities, which is suitable intermediate technological product able for silicon production and optical application. Keywords Draissa . Quartz . Characterization . Flotation . Silica . Silicon
1 Introduction Reliable and unhindered access to silica is a growing concern. It is of high importance to the industry and of high risk associated with their supply. Algeria is thought to be one of the suppliers of natural resources and especially silica raw material. Its strategy is to develop raw materials into a major
strength for industry such us pure silica for photovoltaic silicon production. The growth of photovoltaic (PV) industry is mainly based on silicon solar cells and reducing the cost of silicon wafers [1]. Due to the advantages of low production cost and relatively high conversion efficiency, multicrystalline silicon has become the main material used for PV.
Highlights • Draissa quartz deposits (Algeria) is studied as a potential raw material for photovoltaic silicon production and crystal growth material • Solid impurities such as alkaline and plagioclase feldspars, micas and iron oxides are detected • The reverse flotation process used in three stages as a high efficiency selective process of quartz beneficiation • The recoveries rate of hematite, mica and feldspar achieve 97 wt%, 99 wt% and 99wt% respectively • Reverse flotation increases the quartz concentration up to 99.65% SiO2 which is suitable product able for silicon production for photovoltaic application. * Abdelkrim Kheloufi [email protected] 1
Centre de Recherche de la Technologie des Semi-conducteurs pour l’Energétique, 02 Bd Frantz Fanon, BP 140 Alger, 7Merveilles, Algérie
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