Chemical Beneficiation of Zircon Sand: A Review

Abstract

Zircon sand (ZrSiO₄) is a valuable mineral resource widely used in industries such as ceramics, refractories, and nuclear reactors due to its unique properties. As demand for high-quality zircon sand and its derivatives have increased in recent years, effective beneficiation processes that can meet these demands have been explored. Conventional processing of zircon sand involves physical separation methods, such as gravity, magnetic and electrostatic separation. However, these techniques may have limitations in achieving the desired levels of purity required for certain applications. Chemical beneficiation methods, such as alkali fusion, acid leaching and chlorination present alternative pathways for improving zircon sand quality. This review paper examines existing literature on the chemical beneficiation of zircon sand and provides a detailed analysis of the methodologies employed to enhance the purity and quality of zircon sand. Reviews detailing the various studies undertaken on the chemical beneficiation of zircon sand are scarce, hence the need for this paper. This review thus aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the chemical beneficiation techniques applied to zircon sand. This review further highlights the effectiveness, challenges, and limitations of the various chemical beneficiation methods, as well as future research and development directions in enhancing the beneficiation of zircon sand.