Process for producing a synthetic rutile from ilmentite
AssigneeUnited States Steel Corporation
InventorsRobert G. Auger, Edward F. Restelli, Jr.
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Abstract
Synthetic rutile is made from ilmenite by pre-oxidizing it, reducing it in a fluid bed, thereafter aeration leaching it, optionally acid leaching, and drying.
Claims12
Method of processing ilmenite to produce a synthetic rutile comprising subjecting the ilmenite or a concentrate thereof to gaseous oxidizing conditions to oxidize FeO therein to Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, exposing the ilmenite to a hydrogen atmosphere in a fluidized bed at a temperature of at least 1400.degree. F to reduce iron therein to a solubilized metallic state, cooling the ilmenite thus reduced to below 1000.degree. F in a nonoxidizing atmosphere, and contacting the reduced product with an aerated aqueous leach solution to dissolve and oxidize iron therein to an insoluble iron oxide physically separable from said leach solution and from residual insoluble reduced ilmenite product consisting at least substantially of TiO.sub.2.
Method of processing ilmenite to produce a synthetic rutile comprising preoxidizing the ilmenite or a concentrate thereof to convert substantially all the iron therein to the Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 form, exposing the ilmenite thus preoxidized to a reducing atmosphere in a fluidized bed at a temperature of about 1400.degree. to about 1700.degree. F and under a pressure of about 0 - 300 psig to reduce iron oxides therein greater than 85 percent to a solubilized metal state, cooling the ilmenite containing the reduced Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 to less than 400.degree. F in a nonoxidizing atmosphere, and contacting the cooled product with an aerated leach solution to dissolve and oxidize iron therein to an insoluble iron oxide physically separable from said leach solution and from residual insoluble reduced ilmenite product consisting at least substantially of TiO.sub.2.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.