Extraction of potassium from biotite by Ba2+/K+ ion exchange and the structural transformation

Potassium has been extracted successfully from biotite by Ba2+/K+ ion exchange. The potassium release rate increased along S-curve versus reaction time. The maximum of potassium release rate was about 96 %. Powder X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the obtained samples to reveal the exchanging behavior and structural transformation. The results showed that after treated with Ba(NO3)2 four times the original biotite transformed to vermiculite-type hydrated Ba-mica. The (001) basal plane was expanded from 1.000 nm of biotite to 1.221 nm of hydrated Ba-mica. Because of the “vacancy effect,” the Ba2+ has two different statuses, causing the structural water vibration of vermiculite-type hydrated Ba-mica split. The edge of vermiculite-type hydrated Ba-mica was crimped compared with the flat edge of original biotite. The (001) basal plane of dehydrated Ba-mica was also split, supporting the “vacancy effect.”