US3897537A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Beneficiation of ilmenite ores
Assignee: Tronox Pigment UK Ltd
•
Filing: 1972-04-04
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Granted: 1975-07-29
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Expires: 1992-04-04
Abstract
Abstract An ilmenite ore may be beneficiated by oxidation to yield a pseudobrookite-containing material, reduction of the oxidation product to give a material having at least 4% of its iron content in the ferric state, and leaching of the reduced material. Leaching is facilitated by the previous two steps. The beneficiate is suitable for chlorination under fluidised-bed reaction conditions to yield titanium tetrachloride, and the reactivity of the beneficiate in chlorination may be enhanced by preliminary calcination to 600* - 700*C.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Robinson
- 👤 Frank Clamp
- 👤 David Aberdeen
- 👤 David Barry Mobbs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 00:31
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B34/00; C22B34/10; C22B34/12; C22B34/1204
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A PROCESS FOR BENIFICATING AN ILMENTITE ORE, WHICH COMPRISES HEATING THE ILMENITE UNDER OXIDISING CONDITIONS TO YIELD A MATERIAL OF WHICH AT LEAST 20% BY WEIGHT COMPRISES PRESUDOBROOKITE, REDUCING THE OXIDISED MATERIAL TO YIELD A MATERIAL HAVING AT LEAST 4% OF ITS IRON CONTENCT (ALCULATED AS FE) IN THE FERRIC STATE, AND LEACHING THE SAID REDUCED MATERIAL TO YIELD A BENEFICIATED TITANIFEROUS MATERIAL.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
A PROCESS FOR BENIFICATING AN ILMENTITE ORE, WHICH COMPRISES HEATING THE ILMENITE UNDER OXIDISING CONDITIONS TO YIELD A MATERIAL OF WHICH AT LEAST 20% BY WEIGHT COMPRISES PRESUDOBROOKITE, REDUCING THE OXIDISED MATERIAL TO YIELD A MATERIAL HAVING AT LEAST 4% OF ITS IRON CONTENCT (ALCULATED AS FE) IN THE FERRIC STATE, AND LEACHING THE SAID REDUCED MATERIAL TO YIELD A BENEFICIATED TITANIFEROUS MATERIAL.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the oxidation is effected at a temperature in the range of from 900* to 1000*C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein at least 30% by weight of the oxidised material comprises pseudobrookite.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 3, wherein at least 50% by weight of the oxidised material comprises pseudobrookite.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 4, wherein at least 60% by weight of the oxidised material comprises pseudobrookite.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the pseudobrookite content of the oxidised material formed from the ilmenite is substantially equal to the theoretical maximum for the ilmenite.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the reduction is effected at a temperature of from 800* to 1000*C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the reduced material contains substantially no detectable pseudobrookite.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the pseudobrookite content of the reduced material does not exceed 5% by weight.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein from 4 to 10% of the iron content of the reduced material is in the ferric state.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 10, wherein at least 8% of the iron content of the reduced material is in the ferric state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the ilmenite is a Western Australian ilmenite and from 8 to 12% of the iron content of the reduced material is in the ferric state.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the reduced material is acid leached in a single-stage treatment without replenishment of used acid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein said beneficiated material is calcined to a temperature of from 600* to 700*C.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 14, wherein calcination is continued for a period of from 1/4 to 2 hours.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein, prior to being leached, the reduced material is cooled in a non-oxidising environment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the oxidation is effected by heating the ilmenite within the temperature range of from 900*C. to 1,000*C. in the presence of an oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of oxygen and oxygen-containing gasses.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
A beneficiated titaniferous material whenever prepared by a process according to claim 1.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-28 | 1979-01-27 | 1979-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-28 | 1983-01-27 | 1983-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-28 | 1987-01-27 | 1987-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |