Chemical or physical methods for separation of phases

A solution of maleic acid in methanol has also been used to dissolve the silicate phases (Til). This is quicker than the SAM method, but if the methanol contains water, ettringite may be formed and water-soluble phases, such as K2SO4, lost, while if it is anhydrous, gelling occurs the SAM method is thus preferable (S31). Extraction of the silicate phases by the trimethylsilylation method of Tamas et al. (T12) (Section 5.3.2) also leaves a residue containing the aluminate and ferrite phases. 

Gutteridge (G33) found that a solution of sucrose in aqueous KOH (KOSH reagent) dissolves the aluminate and ferrite, leaving the silicates and minor phases. The clinker or cement (lOg) is reduced to below 5pm by 

Physical methods are of limited effectiveness for separating the phases in cement clinker because of the intimate scale on which the latter are mixed however, Yamaguchi and Takagi (Yl) had some success with the use of dense liquids. Some concentration of the ferrite phase can be effected by magnetic separation (M35,Y1). 

---