Extraction of Amorphous Silica from Geothermal Water and its Application to Improve Newsprint Quality

Abstract

The presence of significant concentrations of silicic acid (monomeric silica) in geothermal fluid has been recognised for many years, as was the common observation that amorphous silica deposited from this fluid, when supersaturated. Much of the scientific effort concerning silica chemistry in geothermal water has involved study of the kinetics of silica polymerization- The requirement for a better understanding of the mechanisms governing polymerization stem from problems with silica deposition encountered with reticulation of separated water as a result of exploitation of geothermal reservoirs for power generation. The controlled extraction and useful recovery of high grade amorphous precipitated silica from geothermal water has not received much attention.