Baikov Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia):

Zelenova I. M., Researcher, irizeleno@yandex.ru

Morozov A. A., Leading Researcher, morozov@imet.ac.ru

Reduction electrosmelting of titanium-magnetite concentrates produces titanium slag with TiO₂ content varying within 30–60 %, depending on feed material composition. Main titanium phases in slag are manmade titanates — anosovite and rutile, the latter being formed as a result of oxidation of anosovite. Slag contains 40–60 % of manmade titanates, that may be separated into concentrates, thereby increasing TiO₂ content in final product up to 75–95 %. Pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical technologies of man-made rutile production from ilmenite concentrates are known. In order to increase TiO₂ content in titanium-magnetite concentrates, produced by conventional oredressing techniques, to 80–90 %, additional studies of slag phases separation conditions and man-made titanates' physicochemical properties are required. Physical characteristics of anosovite slag phases were determined on mixed samples of anosovite and oxide glass, the latter being the slag «rock» phase. It is shown, that anosovite may be separated from mixture in heavy liquid, by means of magnetic separation and flotation. Through technological experiments in processing of anosovite and rutilized slag, produced from the Khibinskoye and Gremyakha-Vyrmes concentrates, conducted in heavy liquid, by means of magnetic and electrical separation, as well as flotation, it is shown, that man-made titanates, with regard to processing properties, are similar to natural titanium minerals, and may be separated into highgrade titanium concentrates with 75–90 % titanium dioxide content to be utilized in titanium production.

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