Improving Silica Sand Specifications for Making Colorless Glasses by Using Chemical and Physical Methods

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the possibility of reducing the iron oxide ratio in silica sand from Ardhumah, an area, (18) km west of Rutba, a city in Al-Anbar Governorate, to obtain sand specifications appropriate for making colorless glasses (not exceeding 0.02 % iron oxide ratio). The reduction process of iron oxide includes three stages; the first stage is magnetic separation to reduce Fe2O3 from 0.092% to 0.040%, the second stage is re-floatation which has reduced Fe2O3 to 0.024%, finally treatment of the sand output from the first and second stage with diluted HCl or H2SO4, this study showed the possibility of obtaining silica sand with a ratio of Fe2O3 up to 0.016%.