Process for Improving the Grade and Optical Quality of Zircons
AssigneeIluka Resources Limited
InventorPhillip James DUNDAS
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims20
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.
A process for improving the grade and optical quality of chemical grade 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 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 a premium grade zircon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.