Process for improving the grade and optical quality of zircons
AssigneeIluka Resources Limited
InventorPhillip James Dundas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for improving the grade and optical quality of zircon, comprising: baking a mixture of a zircon feed and concentrated sulphuric acid at a baking temperature in the range of from 200 up to 400° C., and for a time to form water leachable sulphates with impurities therein including at least iron and titanium; leaching the baked mixture to dissolve the leachable sulphates; and separating the zircon from the leachate containing the leached sulphates, which separated zircon is thereby of improved grade and optical quality.
Claims17
A process for improving the grade and optical quality of zircon, comprising:
- baking a mixture of a zircon feed and concentrated sulphuric acid at a baking temperature in the range of from 250° C. up to 330° C., and for a time to form water leachable sulphates with impurities therein including at least iron and titanium;
- leaching the baked mixture to dissolve the leachable sulphates;
- and
- separating the zircon from the leachate containing the leached sulphates, which separated zircon is thereby of improved grade and optical quality.
A process according 1, further including alkaline leaching the separated zircon.
A process for improving the grade and optical quality of zircon, comprising:
- baking a mixture of a zircon feed having a d50 value of 50 μm or less and concentrated sulphuric acid at a baking temperature in the range of from 270° C. up to 330° C. and for a time to form water leachable sulphates with impurities therein including at least iron and titanium;
- leaching the baked mixture with water or dilute acid at a temperature below 50° C. to dissolve the leachable sulphates;
- and
- separating the zircon from the leachate containing the leaches sulphates, which separated zircon is thereby of improved grade and optical quality.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.