Process for the recovery of titanium in mixed chloride media
AssigneeProcess Research Ortech, Inc.
InventorsVaikuntum I. Lakshmanan, Ramamritham Sridhar, G. Bryn Harris, George Puvvada
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Abstract
A process for leaching a value metal from a titanium-bearing ore material comprising the step of leaching the ore material at atmospheric pressure with a lixiviant comprising a chloride and hydrochloric acid is disclosed. The leaching conditions are such that titanium is leached and remains in solution. The temperature is maintained at less that 85° C., and the concentration of hydrochloric acid is preferably less than 20% (mass ratio). The preferred chloride is magnesium chloride. The lixiviant may contain oxidant e.g. sodium chlorate or chlorine.
Claims17
A process for leaching of titanium from a titanium-bearing ore material selected from the group consisting of a titanium-bearing ore, concentrate thereof, modified ore thereof and tailings thereof, and mixtures thereof, said process comprising the steps of:
- (a) leaching the titanium-bearing ore material at atmospheric pressure with a lixiviant comprising hydrochloric acid and magnesium chloride so as to obtain a titanium-rich leach solution, the lixiviant having a concentration of hydrochloric acid of not more than about 20% (mass ratio), based on the amount of lixiviant and a concentration of magnesium chloride of at least 100 g/L, the leach being carried out at a temperature such that titanium in said titanium-rich solution remains in said solution, said temperature of the leach being less than 85° C.;
- (b) subjecting the solution obtained in step (a) to a liquid/solid separation step, thereby obtaining a solids fraction and a liquid fraction;
- (c) subjecting the liquid fraction obtained in step (b) to steps to recover a liquid fraction containing titanium chloride compounds therefrom;
- and
- (d) subjecting the liquid fraction containing titanium chloride compounds of step (c) to steps to recover titanium dioxide therefrom.
A process for leaching of titanium from a titanium-bearing ore material selected from the group consisting of a titanium-bearing ore, concentrate thereof, modified ore thereof and tailings thereof, and mixtures thereof, said process comprising the step of leaching the titanium-bearing ore material at atmospheric pressure with a lixiviant comprising hydrochloric acid and magnesium chloride so as to obtain a titanium-rich leach solution, the lixiviant having a concentration of hydrochloric acid of not more than about 20% (mass ratio), based on the amount of lixiviant, the leach being carried out at a temperature such that titanium in said titanium-rich solution remains in said solution, said temperature of the leach being from 70° C. to 85° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.