Synthesis of galena (PbS) in silica gel composite particles by sulphidisation and hydrothermal reaction
Date
2013
Authors
Fosu, S.
Pring, A.
Skinner, W.M.
Zanin, M.
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Conference paper
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Chemeca 2013 : challenging tomorrow, 2013, pp.454-458
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Chemeca 2013 (29 Sep 2013 - 2 Oct 2013 : Brisbane, Australia)
Abstract
This paper reports the synthesis and characterisation of lead sulphide (PbS) in silica gel (amorphous quartz) as a binary composite particle, in an attempt of mimicking real ores. Silica gel was synthesised via an economic route sol-gel method using sodium metasilicate as a precursor. Lead sulphide particles in the gel were synthesised by using lead acetate and sulphide ion donor thioacetamide, via a hydrothermal reaction method. Lead sulphide particles were grown at hydrothermal temperature of 220oC, where thioacetamide breaks down to release sulphur (S2-) ions to sulphidised lead from the acetate. The products were obtained in lumps which were ground and characterised by quantitative X-ray diffraction (QXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). QXRD results showed that the silica gel is of low quartz, partially crystalline and predominantly amorphous. The XRD pattern for the PbS showed crystals of galena and a quantified grade of 1%. SEM image confirms that the shape of PbS synthesised were of perfect cleavage with strati form, multifacets of agglomerated composite particles with regular shapes and few cubic crystals of few nanometres to microns (about 10 μm). The EDX spectrum indicates that PbS was synthesised in amorphous quartz.
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Copyright 2013 Engineers Australia