Kaoline Processing Systems

Kaoline Processing Systems

Kaoline, also known as kaolinite is a clay mineral. Kaoline usually feels and appears soft, earthy, and white and is produced by the chemical weathering of aluminum silicate minerals. In certain areas kaoline sometimes appears white, yellow, or light orange. Commercial grades of kaoline are supplied and transported as dry powder, a semi-dry noodle, or as liquid slurry.

Kaoline, or kaolinite clays undergo different phase transformations upon thermal treatment in air at certain atmospheric pressure. If the temperature is below that of 212 degrees Fahrenheit and if it is exposed to dry air, it will slowly start to lose liquid that it contains. This phase is referred to as referred to as “leather dry.” When the temperature is between 212 and 1,022 degrees Fahrenheit Kaoline loses any of the remaining liquid it may have contained. The end of this state of this phase is known as “bone dry.” During the fluctuation of these temperatures, if water is added at any time, it will be reabsorbed and the kaoline will disintegrate. After the kaoline has passed these two phases, water cannot be reabsorbed. The different phases are referred to as metakaolin, spinel, platelet mullite, and needle mullite.

Kaoline, or kaolinite, is one of the most common minerals found around the world. It can be foud in Malaysia, Pakistan, Vietnam, Brazil, Bulgaria, France, the UK, Iran, Germany, India, Australia, Korea, China, the Czech Republic, Spain, South Africa, and the US. Kaoline can be found in many different types of soils that have formed from the chemical weathering of rocks in hot, moist climates. Tropical rain forests are a great environment for this. As climates become cooler and drier, less kaoline is usually found. In the US, kaoline deposits are found the most in central Georgia and the area is known as the Kaoline Capital of the World. In the US alone during 2011, 5.5 million tons of kaoline was produced.

The main use of the mineral kaoline, or kaolinite, is for the production of paper. It is what adds a gloss like appearance and texture on some types of paper. It is also known for its medical uses. Kaoline can help accelerate blood clotting, and has been used to create commercially available products such as QuikClot Combat Gauze, which is commonly used by the US military.

Kaoline can benefit from rotary drying. The ONIX Corporation’s processing systems can handle numerous materials and co-products that you may not know what to do with or want a better more effective way to process. We have the ability to work with materials such as, but not limited to, apple pomace, citrus pomace, sludge, alfalfa, bagasse, coffee grounds, sawdust, kaoline and much more. Our equipment is engineered to fit your specific needs. If you feel that The ONIX Corporation may be of assistance to you, please don’t hesitate to research more about our alternative fuel systems, including rotary drum dryers and material handling solutions. Whether you’re looking for a new solution to process kaoline or something else, it never hurts to give us a call to learn more.