Tuning the rheological properties of kaolin suspensions using biopolymers

Kaolin based suspensions have wide range of applications such as slurry wall, drilling fluids, adhesives, cosmetics, refractories and pharmaceuticals, due to their abundance in nature, low cost and non-swelling nature. On the other hand, the unique properties (i.e., biodegradability) of biopolymers make them suitable candidate for variety of...

Framework for monitoring and control of the production of calcined kaolin

In response to the growing demand for sustainable products and services, the kaolin calcination industry is developing practices that optimise the use of resources. The main challenges include more efficient use of raw materials and a reduction in the energy consumed by the calcination furnace. An opportunity to achieve this lies in the...

Prediction of Soluble Al2O3 in Calcined Kaolin Using Infrared Spectroscopy and Multivariate Calibration

In the production of calcined kaolin, the soluble Al2O3 content is used as a quality control criterion for some speciality applications. The increasing need for automated quality control systems in the industry has brought the necessity of developing techniques that provide (near) real-time data. Based on the understanding that the presence of...

Towards an On-line Characterisation of Kaolin Calcination Process Using Short-Wave Infrared Spectroscopy

In the production of calcined kaolin, the on-line monitoring of the calcination reaction is becoming more relevant for the generation of optimal products. In this context, this study aimed to assess the suitability of using infrared (IR) spectroscopy as a potential technique for the on-line characterization of the<br/>calcination of kaolin. The...

Mapping the kaolin mineralization of the St. Austell Granite (SW England) using VNIR and SWIR hyperspectral imaging

The St. Austell area (SW England) is known for its high quality and world-class size kaolin deposits and has a long history of kaolin mining. Mining started in the high grade zones. However, in recent years, mining is moving closer to lower grade zones and sees an increase in iron-impurities within the ore. The kaolin mineral assemblage consists...

Modelling the immediate penetration of rock particles in soft clay during subsea rock installation, using a flexible fallpipe vessel.

Subsea rock installation is often used in offshore engineering. With offshore activities in increasing water depths a flexible fallpipe is currently used to accurately install the rock particles. The total required volume of rock material during installation can be determined by summing the geometrical volume, the operational losses and the...