Abstract:

The advances of thermal decomposition of potassium feldspar with various additive agents are reviewed. Thermodynamic calculations of the thermal decomposition reactions of potassium feldspar are performed for both of the Gibbs free energy changes and energy consumptions during the sintering processes with various additives. Taking such factors into consideration as mineral resource consumption, energy consumption, environmental compatibility, and the terminal product schema for the sintering procedures of potassium feldspar powdery materials, it is deduced that both procedures with limestone and sodium carbonate as additives are of significance in industry; and further, it is only when sodium carbonate is taken as additive that the procedure could be the least consumptions of the mineral resources and energy, the least expellant of the greenhouse gas CO₂, and that the terminal products with high value could be manufactured. It is therefore feasible that the procedure suggested in this paper is hopeful industrialized both in economic benefits and environmental kindness.

Key words: insoluble potassium ore, sintering reaction, thermodynamics, clean processing, potassium compound