ACETIC ACID AND SODIUM ACETATE MIXTURE AS AN AERATION CATALYST IN THE REMOVAL OF METALLIC IRON IN REDUCED ILMENITE

Than Ngoc Truong,Binh Ngoc Duong,Thao Thi Nguyen

doi:10.12776/ams.v23i4.1004

Abstract

Acetic acid and sodium acetate mixture (AASAM) was used as an aeration catalyst in the removal of metallic iron in reduced ilmenite. The efficiency of the catalyst was then compared to the standard ammonium chloride catalyst used in industry. Obtained results show that faster rate of iron removal could be achieved with AASAM while the molar concentrations of both AASAM and ammonium chloride were 0.1M. The highest rate of iron removal was achieved at the mixture proportion of 0.025M CH3COONa and 0.075M CH3COOH, aeration parameters of 70 C, solid/liquid ratio of 1/7 and air flow rate of 4.0 lit/min. At those experimental conditions, the aeration time was shortened from 9 hours when NH4Cl was used to 6 hours when AASAM was used. In both cases, the obtained rutile contains approx. 82% TiO2 and less than 0.5% metallic iron. The results indicated that AASAM could be used as a replacement for the NH4Cl catalyst in the aeration of reduced ilmenite.

Highlights

The Becher process developed by the Western Australia Government Chemical Laboratory in 1961 is a two step procedure for the production of synthetic rutile [1, 2]
The process requires two stages; a selective reduction stage in which iron oxides present within the ilmenite were reduced to metallic iron by a reducing agent, and an aeration stages in which metallic iron are removed from the reduced ilmenite grain by the use of aerated ammonium chloride solution [2]
It has the ability to buffer solution, to prevent passive iron oxides film forming on particle surface and its ability to form a complex with the iron (II) ions [3,4,5,6]

Summary

Introduction

The Becher process developed by the Western Australia Government Chemical Laboratory in 1961 is a two step procedure for the production of synthetic rutile [1, 2]. Ammonium chloride is an established and widely used catalyst in the removal of metallic iron from reduced ilmenite.

Results

Conclusion