Title: Assessment of Calcined Ededimeji Termite Mound for Potential Alumina Recovery via Nitric Acid Route
Authors: Bello, W. O.,,, Ajani, A. O.,,, Afolabi, T. J.,,, Oladunni, S. O.,,, Ojo I. A.,,, Tijani, I. O.,,, Adeyi, V. A.,,, and Alade, A. O.,,,
Volume: 9
Issue: 1
Pages: 305-309
Publication Date: 2025/01/28
Abstract:
The potential of extracting alumina from Termite Mound with Nitric acid was examined in this study. The termite mound was collected from Ededimeji in Ede, Osun state, Nigeria. The optimization of Al2O3 leaching from termite clay was carried out using Nitric acid. Some process parameters such as calcination temperature (550-900 ?) and time (60-240 min) were considered for alumina leaching based on the I-optimal Design under the Response Surface Methodology of the Design Expert software (12.0.1). X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was used to determine the chemical composition of the beneficiated, calcined and dealuminated clay sample. The analysis indicated the presence of Alumina in the raw termite mound and the dissolution rate of alumina from the meta clay was up to 64.88 %. Optimum alumina was achieved at 750 ? and 60 min. Therefore, abandoned termite mounds can be used extensively to produce alumina.