Optimization of calcination parameters for zirconia production from tin mining tailings.

Optimization of calcination parameters for zirconia production from tin mining tailings. Research on optimization of calcination parameters for the manufacture of zirconia from tin mining tailings has been carried out. The research begins with the manufacture of bait, namely beneficiation, leaching and deposition using ammonia. Parameters observed in this study included feed powder size of 40, 90, 160, 220, and 240 µm, temperature range from 200 to 1000 °C by increments of every 100 °C, and calcination time range from 10 to 100 min by increments of every 10 min. The experimental results showed that in general the smaller particle size results in a product with a higher Zr content, where the particle size of 40 µm generated 93% Zr content in ZrO2. The temperature increasing from 200 to 800 °C led to a significant Zr content rising from 40% up to 89%. The Zr content still increase by the rising of temperature until 1000 °C, but the increasing was not significant, that was up to 91.30%. The calcination time showed that the Zr content increased by the increasing of time extensively from 60% in 10 min to 93% in 60 min. By rising of temperature up to 100 °C, the Zr content was still increasing but was not too pointed, reached 93.60%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]