Upgrading Titanium Ore Through Selective Chlorination Using Calcium Chloride

To develop a simple and effective process for upgrading low-grade titanium ore (ilmenite, mainly FeTiO₃), a new selective chlorination process based on the use of calcium chloride (CaCl₂) as the chlorine source was investigated in this study. Titanium ore and a titanium ore/CaCl₂ mixture were placed in two separate crucibles inside a gas-tight quartz tube that was then positioned in a horizontal furnace. In the experiments, the titanium ore in the two crucibles reacted with either HCl produced from CaCl₂ or CaCl₂ itself at 1100 K (827 °C), leading to the selective removal of the iron present in the titanium ore as iron chlorides [FeCl _x (l,g) (x = 2, 3)]. Various kinds of titanium ores produced in different countries were used as feedstock, and the influence of the particle size and atmosphere on the selective chlorination was investigated. Under certain conditions, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) with purity of about 97 pct was directly obtained in a single step from titanium ore containing 51 pct TiO₂. Thus, selective chlorination is a feasible method for producing high purity titanium dioxide from low-grade titanium ore.     

A novel electrolytic process using a Cu cathode for the production of Mg metal from MgO

Journal of Applied Electrochemistry - An environmentally friendly and effective molten salt electrolysis process using a copper (Cu) cathode was developed for producing magnesium (Mg) metal from...     

High‐temperature stability of YSZ and MSZ ceramic materials in CaF2–MgF2–MgO molten salt system

The high‐temperature stability of YSZ and MSZ specimens was investigated in CaF₂–MgF₂–MgO molten salt at 1200°C. YSZ was mostly composed of m‐ZrO₂ and a small part of YF₃ in the early stages. The formation of YF₃ was attributed to the chemical reaction between Y₂O₃ and MgF₂, which can lead to the leaching of Y₂O₃ from YSZ. With an increase in exposure time, the degraded surface was coarser, and considerable amount of cracks, pores, and spallations were formed. Furthermore, no Y₂O₃ was found up to 120 μm of the YSZ bulk in the early stages. MSZ was composed of t‐ZrO₂ after 24 hours. However, the volume fraction of m‐ZrO₂ was 72% after 72 hours, and CaZrO₃ was formed by the chemical reaction between CaO and ZrO₂ after 168 hours. In addition, the volume fraction of m‐ZrO₂ was 60% in 2.5 wt% MgO and 49% in 10 wt% MgO. In 5 wt% MgO, CaZrO₃ was formed. We demonstrate that the high‐temperature stability of MSZ was better than that of YSZ, and that 10 wt% MgO was much more stable than the other concentrations of MgO.     

Thermodynamic Consideration of the Removal of Iron from Titanium Ore by Selective Chlorination

Thermodynamic study of the chlorination reactions of oxides such as titanium oxides and iron oxides at elevated temperatures was carried out in order to consider the removal of iron from titanium ore using selective chlorination method. In particular, various chlorination reactions were analyzed by utilizing chemical potential diagrams, and the applicability and usefulness of this thermodynamic study for analyzing the selective chlorination of titanium ore were demonstrated. Furthermore, chlorination reactions using various types of chlorinating agents were discussed from different viewpoints. It was shown that the selective chlorination of iron from titanium ore by HCl gas is thermodynamically feasible and efficient for upgrading titanium ore. Further, thermodynamic analysis showed that under certain conditions, TiCl₄ can be used as a chlorinating agent for the iron in the ore, and iron can be removed by evaporation directly from the ore as chloride gas. The results presented in this study provide useful information for developing a process for upgrading low-grade titanium ore for use as a titanium smelting feed through a dry method.     

Selective Removal of Iron from Low-Grade Ti Ore by Reacting with Calcium Chloride

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B - Recently, titanium metal production by molten salt electrolysis using CaCl2 as molten salt and TiO2 or rutile (94 to 96 pct TiO2) as feedstock...