Alkali-assisted potassium recovery from K-feldspar by roasting and leaching

James Mulwanda; Munyadziwa Mercy Ramakokovhu; Kasturie Premlall

doi:10.1016/j.hydromet.2026.106670

Alkali-assisted potassium recovery from K-feldspar by roasting and leaching

James Mulwanda
, Munyadziwa Mercy Ramakokovhu
, Kasturie Premlall

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This study investigated the extraction of potassium from K-feldspar (KAlSi₃O₈) by roasting with a combination of sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxides, followed by water leaching at room temperature. Results obtained from the XRD analysis of the roasted solids complimented the thermodynamic modelling of the roasting process carried out with the HSC software package. The roasting of K-feldspar at 850 °C with a ratio of 0.5 g of NaCl, 0.5 g of NaOH, and 0.25 g of CaO per gram of K-feldspar feed, followed by leaching in water, resulted in 95.4% of potassium extraction.

Original language	English
Article number	106670
Journal	Hydrometallurgy
Volume	242
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2026.106670
Publication status	Published - Jun 2026
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Extraction
K-feldspar
Leaching
Mixed alkali
Potassium
Roasting

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Metals and Alloys
Materials Chemistry

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10.1016/j.hydromet.2026.106670

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title = "Alkali-assisted potassium recovery from K-feldspar by roasting and leaching",

abstract = "This study investigated the extraction of potassium from K-feldspar (KAlSi3O8) by roasting with a combination of sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxides, followed by water leaching at room temperature. Results obtained from the XRD analysis of the roasted solids complimented the thermodynamic modelling of the roasting process carried out with the HSC software package. The roasting of K-feldspar at 850 °C with a ratio of 0.5 g of NaCl, 0.5 g of NaOH, and 0.25 g of CaO per gram of K-feldspar feed, followed by leaching in water, resulted in 95.4\% of potassium extraction.",

keywords = "Extraction, K-feldspar, Leaching, Mixed alkali, Potassium, Roasting",

author = "James Mulwanda and Ramakokovhu, \{Munyadziwa Mercy\} and Kasturie Premlall",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2026",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1016/j.hydromet.2026.106670",

language = "English",

volume = "242",

journal = "Hydrometallurgy",

issn = "0304-386X",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Alkali-assisted potassium recovery from K-feldspar by roasting and leaching

AU - Mulwanda, James

AU - Ramakokovhu, Munyadziwa Mercy

AU - Premlall, Kasturie

PY - 2026/6

Y1 - 2026/6

N2 - This study investigated the extraction of potassium from K-feldspar (KAlSi3O8) by roasting with a combination of sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxides, followed by water leaching at room temperature. Results obtained from the XRD analysis of the roasted solids complimented the thermodynamic modelling of the roasting process carried out with the HSC software package. The roasting of K-feldspar at 850 °C with a ratio of 0.5 g of NaCl, 0.5 g of NaOH, and 0.25 g of CaO per gram of K-feldspar feed, followed by leaching in water, resulted in 95.4% of potassium extraction.

AB - This study investigated the extraction of potassium from K-feldspar (KAlSi3O8) by roasting with a combination of sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxides, followed by water leaching at room temperature. Results obtained from the XRD analysis of the roasted solids complimented the thermodynamic modelling of the roasting process carried out with the HSC software package. The roasting of K-feldspar at 850 °C with a ratio of 0.5 g of NaCl, 0.5 g of NaOH, and 0.25 g of CaO per gram of K-feldspar feed, followed by leaching in water, resulted in 95.4% of potassium extraction.

KW - Extraction

KW - K-feldspar

KW - Leaching

KW - Mixed alkali

KW - Potassium

KW - Roasting

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105031715454

U2 - 10.1016/j.hydromet.2026.106670

DO - 10.1016/j.hydromet.2026.106670

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105031715454

SN - 0304-386X

VL - 242

JO - Hydrometallurgy

JF - Hydrometallurgy

M1 - 106670

ER -

Alkali-assisted potassium recovery from K-feldspar by roasting and leaching

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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