Determination of Oxalate Ion in Bayer Liquor Using Electrochemical Method

Abstract

bauxite with caustic liquor and the subsequent precipitation of hydrated alumina [1]. Most bauxite contains organic compounds in various amounts. Depending upon the digestion conditions, 5-10% of the organic carbon is converted to sodiumoxalate [2]. When sodiumoxalate, if not controlled in Bayer process, builds up to a certain level of supersaturation, it precipitates out in the hydrate precipitator tank. This co-precipitation affects the quality of alumina [3]. In this study, we investigated the electrochemical determination of oxalate ion by using differential puls voltammetry in Bayer liquor. A linear relationship between oxalate concentration and current response was obtained with good reproducibility of the current.