Development of Procedure for the Extraction and Refining of Beryllium from Beryl Ores of Pakistan

Abstract

LITERATURE SURVAY OF THE PROJECT Upto date literature survey regarding the extraction behaviour and solution chemistry of beryllium and other metals usually found in the Beryal ore was carried out. This was done by consulting chemical Abstracts, current contents and various journals. In addition to these computerized information on the subject for the last ten years was also obtained through PASTIC from the British library, London. BERYAL ORE SAMLES Director of the natural history museum, Islamabad was contacted for the supply of betrayal ore sample of various origins. They could not supply us the samples which were on display, but deputed one of their research officers to collect Beryal ore samples for us. Beryal ore samples, therefore, were produced from the University Engineering and technology, Lahore; these samples were from Raj Dawari, areas. PROCESSING OF THE ORE The processing of the Beryal ore required some preliminary treatments before it could be subjected to a chemical treatment for the extraction of the metal. CRUSHING The Beryal ore samples were not homogenous and, therefore, these had to be dressed manually. These were first cut into small pieces of about 1/8’’ diameter into a steel mortar and then were subjected to the following treatment. Pricking; From the crushed granules, green-coloured beryal granules were collected agate mortar, leaving the mica and white powder sticking to the ore. Grinding; The green coloured granules were ground to a very fine state in an agate mortar in the absence or draught of air. Great care was exercised to avoid the looses due to the dusting of ore during grinding. Screening; The finally ground ore was sieved through a 120 mesh brass screen avoiding the dusting problems. The finely ground are samples were kept in stopper bottles for further processing.