Reaction between Potassium Alunite of the Began Deposit and Sulfuric Acid.

A study is made of the chemistry and reaction kinetics of sulfuric acid decomposition of untreated potassium alunite into aluminopotassium alum and aluminum sulfate. The dependence of the degree of decomposition of potassium alunite in sulfuric acid on temperature (in the range from 100 to 250 degree C) and time is established. It is shown that at 225 degree C natural potassium alunite is completely decomposed into aluminopotassium alum and aluminum sulfate within 4 hours, which may serve as a quantitative determination of potassium alunite in alunite ores.