Study on manufacturing Ti02 from ilmenite ore by hydrogen sulfate method

Abstract

Ilmenite (FeTiO₃) is an economically important mineral, used as the source of making titanium metal, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) pigment, and photocatalysts. In this study, a novel process for producing TiO₂ pigment from ilmenite is presented. This process includes the burning of ilmenite with potassium hydrogen sulfate (KHSO₄), dissolution of the burnt product in acid (H₂SO₄), hydrolysis, and calcination. The significant effects of reaction temperature, particle size, and potassium hydrogen sulfate-to- ilmenite mass ratio were studied. The optimum conditions were found to be 2 hours at 600^oC; using FeTiO₃:KHSO₄mass ratio of 1:7; and 5-7% sulfuric acid solution.