Extraction of Titanium from Low-Grade Ore with Different Leaching Agents in Autoclave

• Published in: Metals (Basel ) Vol. 10; no. 4; p. 497
• Main Authors: Rodriguez, Mario H., Rosales, Gustavo D., Pinna, Eliana G., Tunez, Fernando M., Toro, Norman
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01-04-2020
• Subjects: Autoclaving; Depletion; Dissolution; Leaching; low-grade ore; Sand; Scanning electron microscopy; Sulfuric acid; titaniferous sands; Titanium; Japan
• ISSN: 2075-4701; 2075-4701
• DOI: 10.3390/met10040497

The progressive depletion of primary sources to obtain metals has led to the search for alternative sources for their recovery. In the particular case of titanium, titaniferous sands are a viable option for obtaining this metal. This paper presents the results of the dissolution of titanium from titaniferous sands of Buenos Aires province (Argentina) in a laboratory autoclave (450 mL of capacity). The operating parameters studied were as follows: different acids (HF, H2SO4 and mixtures of these acids); leaching agent concentration, 5–20% v/v; temperature, 75–150 °C; time, 30–180 min; solid–liquid ratio, 0.9–3.6% w/v; stirring speed, 110–550 rpm. The obtained results indicate that the increase in the leaching agent(s) concentration, temperature and time of contact with the acid mixtures have a marked effect on the dissolution reaction of titanium. Optimal conditions to achieve 89% extraction of titanium were obtained by leaching at 123 °C, 330 rpm, 80 min and 1.8% w/v with a mixture of 15% HF (v/v) and 10% H2SO4 (v/v).