Modern condition and proposed solutions for processing chloride waste of titanium-magnesium production

Abstract

The problem of utilization of chloride wastes formed in the production of sponge titanium from ilmenite concentrates in the process of Krol and metallic magnesium by electrolysis from natural carnallite is considered. Technogenic chlorinated wastes represent a significant danger to the environment, polluting soils and natural waters when they are released into the atmosphere, when acidic industrial wastewater is discharged into water bodies, when solid wastes are placed in sludge storages. Chloride wastes of titanium production are effective additives in drilling muds, improving the various structural and mechanical properties of the latter. A method for neutralizing chlorine-containing waste is proposed by transferring it into a water-insoluble, low-toxic form by neutralizing acidic pulps with lime milk. With chloride waste, potassium, magnesium, niobium, tantalum, scandium, manganese, chromium and other valuable metals are lost. In the waste of titanomagnesium production there are also rubidium and cesium, the distribution of which by industrial products and wastes is not sufficiently studied. An overview of ecologically safe, economically viable technologies for the processing of chloride wastes is presented, which showed the possibility of extracting scandium, niobium and rare earth elements and returning to the production of titanium and magnesium. In connection with the depletion of mineral raw materials sources of rare metals, processing of man-made waste is relevant and promising.