Abstract
Oxalic acid was used for the removal of iron from the intermediates of ilmenite leached by KOH liquor. Various parameters, such as pH, temperature, initial oxalate concentration, and illumination were investigated. Meanwhile, it was found that orthorhombic crystal Ti2O2(OH)2(C2O4)·H2O formed as the leaching proceeded. Scanning electronic microscope (SEM) images implied that the formation of Ti2O2(OH)2(C2O4)·H2O with good crystallinity proceeded through three stages. Calcining Ti2O2(OH)2(C2O4)·H2O, anatase (350·C) or rutile (550·C) type TiO2 was obtained, respectively. Element analysis found that the calcined product contained 94.9% TiO2 and 2.5% iron oxide, but only about 1600 ppm dissolvable iron oxide was left, which indicates that oxalic acid was comparatively effective on iron oxide removal from the intermediates. Finally, an improved route was proposed for the upgrading of ilmenite into rutile.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Pourabdoli M., Raygan Sh., Abdizadeh H., and Hanaei K., Production of high titania slag by electro-slag crucible melting (ESCM) process, Int. J. Miner. Process., 2006, 78(3): 175.
Schoukens A.F.S., Morris D.J., and Stephen M.C., Production of high titania slag from ilmenite, US Patent, 6733561 B2, 2004.
Sasikumar C., Rao D.S., Srikanth S., Mukhopadhyay N.K., and Mehrotra S.P., Dissolution studies of mechanically activated Manavalakurichi ilmenite with HCl and H2SO4, Hydrometallurgy, 2007, 88(1–4): 154.
Li C., Liang B., and Wang H.Y., Preparation of synthetic rutile by hydrochloric acid leaching of mechanically activated Panzhihua ilmenite, Hydrometallurgy, 2008, 91: 121.
Li C., Liang B., and Chen S.P., Combined milling-dissolution of Panzhihua ilmenite in sulfuric acid, Hydrometallurgy, 2006, 82: 93.
Sasikumar C., Rao D.S., Srikanth S., Ravikumar B., Mukhopadhyay N.K., and Mehrotra S.P., Effect of mechanical activation on the kinetics of sulfuric acid leaching of beach sand ilmenite from Orissa, Indian, Hydrometallurgy, 2004, 75: 189.
Liu Y.M., Qi T., Chu J.L., Tong Q.J., and Zhang Y., Decomposition of ilmenite by concentrated KOH solution under atmospheric pressure, Hydrometallurgy, 2006, 81: 79.
Blesa M. A. and Maroto A.J.G., Dissolution of metal oxides, J. Chem. Phys., 1986, 83: 757.
Chiarizia R. and Hortwiz E.P., New formations for iron oxides dissolution, Hydrometallurgy, 1991, 27: 339.
Litter M.I. and Blesa M.A., Photodissolution of iron oxides: I. Maghemite in EDTA solutions, J. Colloid Interface Sci., 1988, 125(2): 679.
Torres R., Blesa M.A., and Matijevic E., Interaction of metal hydrous oxides with chelating agents: VIII. Dissolution of hematite, J. Colloid Interface Sci., 1989, 131(2): 567.
Veglio F., Passariello B., Barbaro M., Plescia P., and Marabini A.M., Drum leaching tests in iron removal from quartz using oxalic and sulphuric acids, Int. J. Miner. Process., 1998, 54: 183.
Sellers R.M. and Williams W.J., High temperature dissolution of nickel chromium ferrites by oxalic acid and nitrilotriacetic acid, Faraday Discuss. Chem. Soc., 1984, 77: 265.
Taxiarchou M., Panias D., Douni I., Paspaliaris I., and Kontopoulos A., Dissolution of hematite in acidic oxalate solutions, Hydrometallurgy, 1997, 44: 287.
Panias D., Taxiarchou M., Paspaliaris I., and Kontopoulos A., Mechanism of dissolution of iron oxides in aqueous oxalic acid solutions, Hydrometallurgy, 1996, 42: 257.
Hee L.C. and Chan P. Effect of ultrasonic treatment on ripening of titanium oxalate salt from solution, J. Mater. Sci., 1999, 34: 3591.
Chen Y., Williams J.S., Campbell S.J., and Wang G.M., Increased dissolution of ilmenite induced by high-energy ball milling, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 1999, 271: 485.
Liu Y.M., Qi T., and Zhang Y., Synthesis of hexatitanate and titanium dioxide fibers by ion-exchange approach, Mater. Res. Bull., 2006, 42(1): 40.
Cornell R.M. and Schindler P.M., Photochemical dissolution of goethite in acid/oxalate solution, Clays Clay Miner., 1987, 35: 347.
Xu N. and Gao Y., Characterization of hemitate dissolution affected by oxalate coating, kinetics and pH, Appl. Geochem., 2008, 23: 783.
Mandal S.K. and Banerjee P.C., Iron leaching from China clay with oxalic acid: effect of different physico-chemical parameters, Int. J. Miner. Process., 2004, 74: 263.
Panias D., Taxiarchou M., Douni I., Paspaliaris I., and Kontopoulos A., Dissolution of hematite in acidic oxalate acid solutions: the effect of ferrous ions addition, Hydrometallurgy, 1996, 43: 219.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wang, Y., Qi, T., Chu, J. et al. Removal of iron from ilmenite by KOH leaching-oxalate leaching method. Rare Metals 29, 9–15 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-010-0002-x
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-010-0002-x