Preparation of High-Purity Potassium Chloride Crystal Particles in an Octadecylamine Hydrochloride–Water System: The Correlation Between Morphology and Purity

In salt lake KCl cold decomposition–direct flotation for K-Na separation, octadecylamine hydrochloride (ODA-H) acts as a collector, reducing product purity and limiting high-end applications of salt lake KCl. To study KCl purification mechanisms and optimize crystal properties, this study investigates ODA-H aqueous systems. By regulating the cooling rate, stirring rate, and ODA-H concentration, the crystallization purification of KCl and precise control of its morphology were achieved, ultimately yielding three typical crystal morphologies: cubic, spherical, and ellipsoidal. Of the three crystal morphologies, spherical crystals have the best flowability but lowest purity. Ellipsoidal crystals have better flowability than cubic ones: their purity exceeds that of cubic crystals before washing but falls below it after washing. Cubic crystals, with poorer flowability, reach the highest purity post-washing. This study provides a theoretical basis for enhancing purity via crystal morphology regulation and industrial-scale purification of salt lake KCl.