The Crystallisation of Aluminium Trihydroxide (Gibbsite) from Sodium Hydroxide Solution Onto Fine Seeds: Physico-chemical Studies on the Internal Structure and Agglomeration of Different Crystal Fractions

A batch of Bayer gibbsite crystals (particle size range 3 to 70 μm) was prepared by crystal growth onto fine seeds (1 to 3 μm) from sodium hydroxoaluminate/sodium hydroxid-solution. The internal structures and seed agglomeration of different fractions were examined by optical microscopy, infra-red spectrophotometry, thermal analysis and chemical dissolution analysis. These physico-chemical studies confirmed that crystal growth occurs with some seed agglomeration in the early stages, followed by growth onto the ‘agglomerates’. The agglomerated seeds contents (X) were as follows: for fraction DiD (l₀ = 6.3 μm), X = 0.44; for fraction Gi C (l₀ = 20 μm), X = 0.41; for fraction Gi B (l₀ = 38 μm), X = 0.31 and for fraction Gi A (l₀ = 55 μm), X = 0.24.