Alkali metal ion source with moderate rate of ion release and methods of forming

摘要

An alkali metal ion source with a moderate rate of release of the ion (e.g. potassium) is formed by a method that includes: 1) combining an particulate ore that contains at least one of an alkali metal ion-bearing framework silicate (e.g. syenite ore) with at least one of an oxide and hydroxide of at least one of an alkali metal and alkaline earth metal such as calcium hydroxide; 2) milling the mixture of these two components optionally, with water, optionally, milling the dry components separately and blended thereafter, optionally, with water; 3) forming a mixture by adding water to the solid mixture after milling, if water was not added before milling; 4) exposing the mixture to an elevated temperature and pressure to form a gel that includes silica and the alkali metal of the framework silicate.

主权项

1. A method for forming an alkali metal ion source with a moderate rate of the ion release, comprising the steps of:
a) combining a first component particulate alkali metal ion-bearing framework silicate with a second component that includes at least one of an oxide and a hydroxide of at least one of an alkaline earth metal and an alkali metal to form a solid mixture, wherein the molar ratio of the silicon to the at least one of the alkaline earth metal and alkali metal of the second component in the solid mixture is in a range of between about 1.0:0.1 and about 1.0:0.3; and b) exposing the solid mixture to a hydrothermal treatment to form a gel that includes the silicon and the alkali metal of the first component, thereby forming the source of alkali metal ion.