Utilization of a vanadium-containing titanomagnetite: possibilities of a beneficiation-based approach

Abstract

Beneficiation studies were carried out on a titanomagnetite ore from Tete, Mozambique, containing 19.6% TiO₂, 0.6% V₂O₅ and 49% Fe. Characterization of the ore and examination of the beneficiation methods considered in earlier studies led to the development of a new approach, the aim of which is to separate a Ti-richer fraction for primary ilmenite recovery. This alternative route, which combines crushing, low-intensity magnetic separation, grinding and high-intensity magnetic separation, was checked at laboratory and pilot-plant scales. Two main fractions were obtained in the pilot-plant tests. One, 28 wt% of the ore, was ilmenitic, with 31% TiO₂, 0.27% V₂O₅ and 45.6% Fe_tot; the other, representing 58.5 wt% of the ore, was magnetitic, with 13% TiO₂, 0.63% V_{2 5}O and 58% Fe_tot. A slag containing 80-85% TiO₂ can be obtained from the Ti-richer concentrate. This was confirmed by pelletizing the Ti-rich concentrate with 1.5% bentonite, reducing it with H₂ and leaching the metallic iron with dilute acid; the residue analysed 80.5% TiO₂.