The thermal reaction of Venezuelan lateritic bauxites with glycerol

Goethite contained in lateritic bauxites or in artificial mineral admixtures is completely transformed into peculiar Fe-alkoxide compounds by reaction with glycerol at 245°C. Magnetic spinel oxides result from hydrolysis by boiling water of alkoxides obtained from the artificial admixtures. On the other hand, the production of magnetic spinel materials is not observed in alkoxides derived from natural lateritic samples. This may be caused by the high amount of Al substituting for Fe in these Venezuelan lateritic goethites.