Reduction of iron in titanium ore

US4038364A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BAYER HEALTHCARE LLC · DE

Inventor

• Gunter Lailach · Krefeld, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 30, 1974
• Grant date: Jul 26, 1977
• Expiry date: Dec 30, 1994

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P10/20
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

In the production of synthetic rutile from a titanium and iron-containing ore by reducing most of the iron(III) in said ore into iron(II) with a steam-containing gaseous reducing agent at a temperature of about 850.degree. to 1100.degree. C, followed by leaching to remove the iron(II) and iron(III) and drying of the residue, the improvement which comprises using as said reducing agent a gas containing hydrogen and steam and optionally at least one of CO and CO.sub.2 wherein the H.sub.2 + CO : H.sub.2 O + CO.sub.2 molar ratio of the reducing agent is between 0.36 and 1.8. The reducing agent may comprise a mixture of hydrogen and steam or it may be the partial combustion product of a hydrocarbon. Advantageously, the ore is oxidized at 550.degree. to 1200.degree. C prior to reduction. The reduction permits ready dissolution of the iron during leaching without risk of hydrogen evolution.