Titania recovery from low-grade titanoferrous minerals

In this study a novel process for extraction of titanium valuables from its minerals is presented. The process entails roasting of titanium ore with alkaline metal salt, hydrolysing fused cake and dissolution in acid. Optimum conditions were found to be 1 h fusion at 850 °C, using 2:1 mole ratio, NaOH:FeTiO4, irrespective of the particle size interval used in this work. It was found that under these conditions ≈ 80% of titanium was recovered. Na0.75Fe0.75Ti0.25O2, NaFeTiO4 and Na2Fe2Ti3O10 were the dominant phases at this temperature. The presence of these phases is viewed as beneficial to the economics of the process, it consumes less NaOH. Fusions conducted at 550 °C or below produced chiefly binary phases, Na2TiO3 and NaFeO4, reducing process economy. Optimum leaching conditions were S/L = 0.26, leaching at 75 °C, for 15 min. 85% of NaOH was recovered, under these conditions. Leaching obeys shrinking core mechanism model.

► We present a process of Ti recovery from low-grade Ti minerals.
► The process uses minimum amounts of alkali compounds.
► 80% of the total Ti can be recovered by this process.
► 85% of the total alkali used can be recovered and recycled.