GB805438A - Method for obtaining a concentrate of titanium dioxide and a concentrate containing metallic iron from raw materials containing titanium and iron - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for the production of a concentrate of metallic iron from raw materials containing titanium dioxide and iron oxide, comprises reducing the raw material, if necessary after the addition of phosphorus and/or sulphur, without melting under such conditions that the iron phase after the reduction contains 0.3-5.0 per cent of phosphorus and/or sulphur, grinding the reduced material to a small grain size, and separating the iron material from the titanium material. The raw materials may be ilmenite and coke mixed with about 3 per cent of red phosphorus, ferrophosphorus, apatite, sodium phosphate, ferric or ferrous sulphate, or iron sulphide which cause the iron, after reduction, to form large brittle particles which can be separated magnetically after grinding. To improve separation, the iron reduction should be as complete as possible, preferably over 90 per cent, and grinding carried out under non-oxidizing conditions to prevent re-oxidation. The temperature of reduction should be as high as possible consistent with the charge not melting (1000-1450 DEG C.). A pre-oxidation treatment may be used to convert ferrous to ferric compounds which are more easily reducible. If the pre-oxidation is carried out in the presence of alkali salts, the vanadium content is converted to alkali vanadates which are easily extracted by leaching.