Abstract

Preparation of pigment grade TiO2 from Rosetta ilmenite via selective TOPO extraction of titaniumfromits hydrochloric acid solution

Author(s): Salah A.Zaki

Pigment grade TiO2 has successfully been prepared from Rosetta ilmenite leach liquor. The latter has been prepared by reductive HCl leaching followed by selective Ti extraction using tri-octyl phosphine oxide (TOPO). This has been possible by partial reduction of the leached Ti values to its trivalent state. The relevant extraction and stripping factors have been optimized. For the former, these involved the aqueous phase acidity, the TOPO molarity, the time of extraction, the ratio of octanol as well as theA/O ratio. The optimized extraction conditions included: an aqueous phase acidity of 5MHCl, a 0.72MTOPO in kerosene togetherwith an octanol volume ratio of 10%for 5 minutes at anA/O ratio of 1/1. The optimized stripping factors have involved a 0.25MHCl for 10minutes at anA/O ratio of 1/1. The obtained strip liquor was then hydrolyzed to formthe insoluble titanium hydroxide using the seed nuclei technique. After calcination the obtained product, it was found to be devoid of Fe, Mn, Cr and V.