Purification Technologies for High-Purity Quartz: From Mineralogy to Applications
Lei Zhan, Qian Wang, Jiangang Ku, Huichao Shang, Zhengchang Shen
Abstract
High purity quartz is an important mineral resource with stable physical and chemical properties and a wide range of applications, especially in the glass, crucible, casting, and fiber optic photovoltaic industries. With the development of higher requirements for optical components, compared with ordinary quartz, the value of high purity quartz increased substantially. So far, significant efforts have been made in the purification of quartz. However, the purity of quartz mineral raw materials remains relatively low, which continues to present a stark contrast with the high-purity requirements demanded by advanced applications. This paper first introduces the distribution of quartz and the types of impurities that seriously affect the quality and application of high-purity quartz. Methods of purification of high-purity quartz, such as magnetic separation, flotation, and leaching are highlighted, and multiple processes are combined to significantly enhance the purification effect. At the same time, the principles of each purification technology and the influencing factors are discussed. The aim of this paper is to gain an in-depth understanding of the key development prospects of high-purity quartz purification, to strengthen basic research and multidisciplinary cross-fertilization, and to provide ideas and references for the production of high-purity quartz.