Abstract
In this work, acetic and citric acids were used along with ammonium chloride in the removal of iron from reduced Hatinh ilmenite. Iron removal was carried out at 70ºC, 4 liter/min of air flow rate, 7/1 of liquid/solid ratio and 0.5% NH4Cl as catalyst. After 9 hours, metallic iron was decreased from 30.3% in reduced ilmenite to 0.5% in synthetic rutile. The addition of 0.4% acetic acid into NH4Cl solution reduces removal time to 5 hours, residual metallic iron (RMI) was also 0.5%. The addition of 0.4% citric acid also reduces removal time to 5 hours, RMI was reduced to 0.33%. The rusting rate of metallic iron increased when acid concentration increased from 0.1 to 1%. The results indicated that acetic and citric acids could be used as additional catalysts along with NH4Cl in the removal of metallic iron in reduced ilmenite. The acid have the capability to form complexes with iron and also showed impact on the formation of precipitated iron compounds.
Highlights
Aeration is one of the major stages in the Becher process for ilmenite processing
Ammonium chloride was used as catalyst for aeration in the Becher process due to its three important properties: ability to buffer the solution, to prevent passive iron oxides film forming on particle surface and its ability to form a complex with the iron (II) ions [5]
Residual metallic iron in rutile was determined by wet chemical analysis involving dissolution of residual metallic iron (RMI) in CuSO4 solution followed by quantitative addition of potassium dichromate to convert Fe2+ to Fe3+
Summary
Aeration is one of the major stages in the Becher process for ilmenite processing. The stage involves rusting and transport of metallic iron away from reduced ilmenite using aerated ammonium chloride solution [1, 2]. The stage involves rusting and transport of metallic iron away from reduced ilmenite using aerated ammonium chloride solution [1, 2]. Acetic acid (CH3COOH) and citric acid (C6H8O7) were used along with NH4Cl. Influences of these acids on rusting rate and residual metallic iron in rutile are investigated.
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