Sulfate process
AssigneeBHP Billiton Innovation Pty Ltd.
InventorsEric Girvan Roche, Philip Ernest Grazier, Alan David Stuart
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Abstract
A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material (such as an iron-containing titaniferous material; such as ilmenite) is disclosed. The process includes precipitating titanyl sulfate from a process solution produced in the process. The titanyl sulfate precipitation step includes subjecting the precipitated titanyl sulfate to a shearing action during the course of precipitating titanyl sulfate from the process solution or after precipitation has been completed.
Claims23
A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material comprising:
- (a) leaching solid titaniferous material with a leach solution containing sulfuric acid and forming a process solution that includes an acidic solution of titanyl sulfate (TiOSO4) and iron sulfate (FeSO4);
- (b) separating the process solution and a residual solid phase from the leach step (a);
- (c) precipitating titanyl sulfate from the process solution from step (b);
- (d) separating the precipitated titanyl sulfate from the process solution;
- (e) treating the precipitated titanyl sulfate and producing a solution containing titanyl sulfate;
- (f) hydrolysing the titanyl sulfate in the solution and forming a solid phase containing hydrated titanium oxides and a liquid phase;
- (g) separating the solid phase containing hydrated titanium oxides and the liquid phase;
- and
- (h) calcining the solid phase from step (g) and forming titania;
- wherein the titanyl sulfate precipitation step (c) includes subjecting the precipitated titanyl sulfate to a shearing action during the course of precipitating titanyl sulfate from the process solution or after precipitation has been completed to cause the precipitated titanyl sulfate to be in the form of elongate members with an aspect ratio of less than 100:1.
A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material that includes a step of precipitating titanyl sulfate from a process solution containing titanyl sulfate produced in the process comprising subjecting the precipitates to a shearing action during the course of precipitating titanyl sulfate from the process solution or after precipitation has been completed to cause the precipitated titanyl sulfate to be in the form of elongate members with an aspect ratio of less than 100:1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.