INTRODUCTION

 Alum refers to several astringent substances most of

which contain aluminium sulphate with the formula
Al2(SO4)3

 Alum is commonly used in water purification as a

coagulant, in food, pharmaceutical, tanning, dyeing,
pulp and paper industries (Edomwonyi-Otu, 2008).
 It is produced from minerals such as: Bauxite, Kaolinite,
etc.

 Nigeria has an estimated reserve of about two billion

metric tons of kaolin deposit but lack alum plant which
utilizes this raw material.

 This design team was selected to design a 1500 tons per

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annum capacity alum plant.
 LITERATURE REVIEW cont’d

Figure 2: Kaolinite Clay (Hosni, 2010)

 There are two common types of alum: Single salt alum

and Double Salt alum
 The three major process are: involved in the production
of alum are: Beneficiation, Calcination and Dealumination
(Aderemi et al, 2009)
 Factors considered in alum plant design are: product
uses/Specification, energy conservation, economic
viability of the product, Safety and loss prevention,
miscellaneous factors.

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 RECOMMENDATIONS

The following recommendations were made by this design

team:
 Silica residue from the reactor products filter should be
sent to zeolite production plant instead of discarding it as

 Periodical overhaul and turn around maintenance of the

plant should be done to maintain the desired level of
production efficiency.

 Qualified personnel should be employed and used for the

operation of the plant.

 A proposal should be written to The Federal Government

of Nigeria for consideration and eventual actualization of
this project.