Hydrolysis of TiOCl2 leached and purified from low-grade ilmenite mineral

• Process for extraction and purification of titanium as TiOCl2 from low grade ilmenite
• Hydrolysis of TiOCl2 at different conditions was investigated.
• Hydrolysis at 100 °C under open atmosphere gives anatase with nano-leaf morphology.
• Hydrothermal hydrolysis at 100 °C and 120 °C gives rutile.
• Hydrothermal hydrolysis at 150 °C gives a mixture of rutile and anatase.

Low grade ilmenite (FeTiO3) is not suitable for the production of titanium metal or TiO2 due to its high iron content. An economic process is devised for extraction and purification of titanium as TiOCl2 solution from low-grade ilmenite. The extracted TiOCl2 solution could be transformed to rutile, anatase or a mixture of them by hydrolysis under different conditions. The microstructure morphology of the obtained products was investigated using SEM and TEM. Hydrolysis under open atmosphere at 100 °C for 6 h gives a very stable suspension of anatase with nano-leaf morphology. On the other hand, hydrolysis under closed hydrothermal condition at 100 °C and 120 °C gives mainly rutile. A mixture of rutile and anatase was obtained by hydrothermal hydrolysis at 150 °C, while at 180 °C the main phase was anatase.

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