Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology (Moscow, Russia)

Kuzin E. N., Associate Professor, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, e.n.kuzin@muctr.ru
Kruchinina N. E., Dean, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, Professor, kruchinina.n.e@muctr.ru

Perm State National Research University (Perm, Russia)

Mokrushin I. G., Associate Professor, Candidate of Сhemical Sciences

The quartz-leucoxene concentrate generated in the development of the Yarega oil and titanium deposit represents large-scale waste, for which no industrial application has yet been found. The content of titanium compounds in the enriched concentrate may reach 50 wt%, which confirms the high relevance of this work. The technologies existing currently envisage separate enrichment options for the concentrate upstream of the selective chlorination process. As part of this research work, pyrometallurgical processing of a quartz-leucoxene concentrate was studied, aimed to produce titanite (sphene). The onset temperature of the solid-phase reaction of titanite synthesis in the CaO–TiO₂–SiO₂ system was established at 1330 °C. The optimal conditions for the pyrometallurgical treatment process are as follows: 1400 °C for three hours at a stoichiometric ratio of CaO–TiO₂. A titanite phase and significant impurities of silicon dioxide released from the quartz-leucoxene grains have been identified in the pyrometallurgical processing products. The process of hydrometallurgical reсovery of titanium compounds occurs most intensively at a sulfuric acid concentration of 60 % and at 140–145 °C (boiling of a 60 % H₂SO₄ solution), with the recovery values exceeding 90 %. The leaching process sediment represents a mix of calcium sulfate, silicon dioxide, as well as unreacted components. A technology concept is proposed for the comprehensive pyro- and hydrometallurgical processing of quartz-leucoxene concentrates to produce raw materials for the manufacture of titanium dioxide/phosphate and complex titanium-containing coagulants.

The research was supported by the Perm Scientific and Educational Center «Rational Subsoil Use», 2023.

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