Carbothermal reduction of ilmenite concentrates and synthetic rutile in different gas atmospheres

Authors

Mohammad Dewan, The University of New South Wales
Guangqing Zhang, The University of New South Wales
Oleg Ostrovski, The University of New South Wales

RIS ID

53356

Publication Details

Dewan, M. A. R., Zhang, G. & Ostrovski, O. (2011). Carbothermal reduction of ilmenite concentrates and synthetic rutile in different gas atmospheres. Transactions of the Institutions of Mining and Metallurgy, Section C: Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy, 120 (2), 111-117.

Abstract

Carbothermal reduction of ilmenite concentrates and synthetic rutile was studied in isothermal experiments in hydrogen, argon and helium in a tube reactor. Concentrations of CO, CO₂ and CH₄ in the off gas were measured online using an infrared gas analyser. The reaction products were analysed by X-ray diffraction. Pseudorutile and ilmenite were the main phases in ilmenite concentrates. Reduction of ilmenite concentrates and synthetic rutile in hydrogen was significantly faster than that in inert atmosphere. The effect of gas atmosphere became stronger for lower grade ilmenite containing more iron oxides. The conversion rate of titania to titanium oxycarbide in hydrogen decreased with increasing grade of ilmenite concentrate. In inert gas, the reduction rates of secondary ilmenite and HYTI70 were close to that of primary ilmenite. Reduction of synthetic rutile was faster in comparison with ilmenite concentrates.