Study on the mineral characteristics and separation performances of a low-TiO2 ilmenite

Abstract

• Ilmenite-M had a lower TiO 2 grade and a higher Fe content than common ilmenite. • Ilmenite-M existed variations in element contents of (Fe, Mg)(Ti, Fe)O 3 . • Ilmenite-M was ferromagnetic while common ilmenite was paramagnetic. • Ilmenite-M emerged a better floatability compared to common ilmenite. • Ilmenite-M would be captured priority over common ilmenite. A low-TiO 2 ilmenite (ilmenite-M) was separated from the vanadium–titanium magnetite ore in Panzhihua, and its chemical composition and separation behaviors were investigated compared to common ilmenite. The chemical composition and structure analysis indicated that ilmenite-M had 43.53% TiO 2 but a high Fe content and two types of ilmenite together with a spot of maghemite appeared in the ilmenite-M grains. The vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis presented that ilmenite-M was strong ferromagnetic and its specific susceptibility was greater than that of paramagnetic ilmenite. Ilmenite-M performed a better floatability than common ilmenite. It was suggested that sodium oleate (NaOL) adsorbed onto ilmenite-M surfaces more than common ilmenite and Ca was served as a new active site response to the NaOL adsorption on ilmenite-M surfaces. Therefore, ilmenite-M would be captured before common ilmenite in the beneficiation of ilmenite ore through high-intensity magnetic separation and froth flotation, decreasing the TiO 2 grade of the final concentrate.