Methods of extraction of products from titanium-bearing materials

A method for the recovery of one or more product from a titanium-bearing material comprising perovskite, the method comprising:

• a) contacting the titanium-bearing material with sulfuric acid to form a cake comprising at least titanyl sulfate
• b) contacting the cake with water and/or dilute sulfuric acid to form a sulfated suspension comprising at least titanyl sulfate
• c) separating solids from liquid in the sulfated suspension to produce a first permeate (LL) comprising at least titanyl sulfate and a first retentate comprising at least calcium sulfate and silica;
• and,
• d) hydrolysing titanyl sulfate in the first permeate to produce a first liquor comprising titanium dioxide hydrate
• e) separating titanium dioxide hydrate from the first liquor to produce titanium dioxide hydrate and a second liquor (PHL) comprising at least aluminium sulfate
• f) separating aluminium sulfate from the second liquor (PHL) to produce aluminium sulfate and a third liquor (PAL) comprising mixed metal sulfates;
• or,
• d′) separating aluminium sulfate from the first permeate (LL) to produce aluminium sulfate and a first liquor comprising at least titanyl sulfate
• e′) hydrolysing titanyl sulfate in the first liquor to produce a second liquor (PHL) comprising titanium dioxide hydrate
• f′) separating titanium dioxide hydrate from the second liquor (PHL) to produce titanium dioxide hydrate and a third liquor (PAL) comprising mixed metal sulfates,
• wherein either steps d), e), and f) or steps d′), e′), and f′) are performed wherein the titanium-bearing material is contacted with sulfuric acid in a mass ratio from approximately 0.75:1 to approximately 2:1.