Synthesis of Cordierite Powder from Blast Furnace Slag

Abstract

We report a new process of synthesizing cordierite powder from blast furnace (BF) slag developed by using sol-gel route. The phase transformation of dried gel calcined under different temperatures was investigated by XRD and FTIR. It was found that one complicated silicic acid-sulphuric solutions system containing cations of Al³⁺ and Mg²⁺ was formed as the precursor of the cordierite by acid treatment of the slag. Cordierite powders with α-cordierite as the main crystalline phase can be obtained when dried gel was calcined in the 1200°-1300°C temperature range. A viable technology to recover the major constituents from BF slag was provided.

Keywords:

• Blast furnace slag
• Cordierite
• Sol-gel
• Calcination
• Characterization