Thermal investigations on alunite and its mixtures with quartz and dickite

Abstract

Summary: The thermal decomposition of alunite and of mixtures of alunite with dickite or quartz or both has been studied, and X-ray determinations of the products at various stages of the decomposition have been made. Between 600 and 700°C the product from alunite is a mixture of anhydrous alum and amorphous alumina; between 700 and 770°C the anhydrous alum breaks down into aluminium sulphate and alkali sulphate; then in the prominent 850°C endothermic reaction three-quarters of the sulphate is lost, leaving a mixture of alkali sulphate and γ-alumina. The area of the 850 °C endothermic peak may be used as a measure of the percentage of alunite in alunitized rocks (alunite-quartz-dickite mixtures).