Leaching behaviour of high surface area synthetic boehmite in NaOH solution

Deviation from shrinking core model R3 is observed in the later stages. Besides the shrinking of size due to dissolution, particle size reduction is also identified due to the detachment of platelets from the agglomerates of particles. Detailed characterisation of the leach residues involving morphological and particle size analyses has established such detachment of platelets and ensuing particle size reduction. Deviation from shrinking core model in the later stages of leaching has been attributed to particle fragmentation arising from platelet separation.