Production of synthetic rutile from ilmenite via anion-exchange

Abstract

This investigation identified that ion-exchange chromatography can efficiently remove iron from the leaching of ilmenite by HCl. The strong basic anionic-exchange resin IRA 410 Cl is capable of retaining the negatively charged iron chloro complex from 20% HCl leachate of ilmenite. Oxidative conversion of Fe²⁺ to Fe³⁺ facilitates the iron exchange to the resin, resulting in an iron-free solution of titanium oxychloride (TiOCl₂). This can be directly used to produce synthetic rutile. The procedure is relatively simple and generates little acid waste.