USE OF CATION-EXCHANGE RESINS (AMBERLITE IRC-50H) IN DISPERSION AND SEPARATION OF CLAYS FROM CARBONATE, PHOSPHATE AND SULFATE ROCK

Conventional treatments carried out for dispersion of clays and their separation from carbonates, phosphates and sulphates, are often more or less aggressive for clays. A treatment is proposed using cation exchange resin (CER)-amberlite IRC-50H. The resin was eluted with 1.5 N HCI and was used at 60-degrees-C. This provides a high dispersion of the suspended matter and completely removes carbonates, sulphates and phosphates. Clays are slightly attacked by CER. because of their silicate structure and their chemical composition, but are protected by the accompanying minerals (carbonates, phosphates and sulphates) which are more sensitive to CER dissolution.