The use of saltern bitterns for manufacturing magnesia refractories.

Abstract

In Srilanka there are salterns where bitterns are produced as potential magnesia compounds , from which magnesia can be precipitated , consolidated and heat treated under certain conditions to produce high quality magnesia pellets which are of similar quality to that produced in the U.K. This is confirmed by the microscopical, chemical and X-ray diffraction studies. This research describes the recovery of magnesia in the lab scale using the sea water bitterns ,from Hambantota salterns , which is presently discarded.