ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Preparation of zirconium oxide nanoparticles from rosette concentrate using two distinct and sequential techniques: hydrothermal and fusion digestion

Hayat H. El Agamy, Amal E. Mubark, Elham A. Gamil, Nasr A. Abdel-Fattah, and Ahmed A. Eliwa

Production Sector, Semi-Pilot Plant Department, Nuclear Materials Authority, Cairo, Egypt

E-mail: aaaliwa@yahoo.com

Received: 11 September 2022  Accepted: 22 January 2023

Abstract:

The preparation of zirconium dioxide nanoparticles (ZrO₂-NPs) as hard ceramics was accomplished from rosette zircon concentrate through two consecutive alkaline digestion reactions. The rosette zircon concentration in the Abu Khashaba area consists mainly of zircon and monazite minerals. Using different operating conditions, the hydrothermal digestion by autoclave and the conventional alkaline fusion methods was performed upon the non-magnetic concentrate of rosette in order to complete the removal of monazite firstly and to complete the purification of zircon metal secondly. All monazite content and undesirable impurities were removed by the hydrothermal method using optimal digestion conditions such as 4 mol/L NaOH solutions, 1/6 solid to liquid, 2 h dissolving time, and a temperature of 423 K. The residual zircon (84% Zr) was subjected to complete digestion using NaOH with a zircon-to-alkali ratio of 1/1.5 and a fusion temperature of 923 K. ZrO₂-NPs were synthesized using the hydrothermal technique at 473 K for 7 h. The calcined ZrO₂-NPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scan electron microscope, and transmittance electron microscope. Purified silica was also obtained as a by-product from washing solutions of fused zircon.

Keywords: Zircon; Hydrothermal; Alkaline digestion; Fusion; Zirconium oxide nanoparticles

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-023-02699-2

Chemical Papers 77 (6) 3229–3240 (2023)