Facile purification of locally mined gypsum and its use for preparing nano-hemihydrates
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Date
2021-09-28
Authors
Adams, L.A.
Essien, Enobong
Aiyeloro, Taiwo
Oseyomon, Stella
Makanjuola, John
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals
Abstract
Gypsum has a wide range of applications, in interior decorations, building construction, supplements or implants in orthopaedics to mention a few. However, in many developing countries including Nigeria, there is still a large-scale importation despite huge available natural deposits. In this study, a facile method to purify locally-mined gypsum has been explored based on the mineral retrograde solubility in water. The purified gypsum was investigated for its elemental composition in comparison to the crude sample and a commercially obtained medical-grade gypsum using X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The results showed that the purified gypsum contained 94.05% CaSO4 compared with the crude which had a CaSO4 content of 58.10%. Hemihydrates obtained by the treatments of the purified gypsum in an oven, autoclave and microwave gave different morphologies when observed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that particle sizes of all the hemihydrates were within the range 9 nm to 32 nm, but the microwave-derived sample exhibited the most desirable morphological characteristics which could impart high mechanical performance. We have reported here a new facile method for purifying gypsum ore that can have huge commercial benefits.
Description
Keywords
Gypsum , Hemihydrate , Retrograde solubility , Microwave energy , Purification
Citation
ADAMS, L. A., Essien, E., Aiyeloro, T., Oseyomon, S., & Makanjuola, J. (2021). Facile purification of locally mined gypsum and its use for preparing nano-hemihydrates. Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals, 31(3), 106-110.