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US4058393A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Process for the beneficiation of titaniferous ores

Assignee: University of Melbourne
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Filing: 1975-06-23
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Granted: 1977-11-15
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Expires: 1995-06-23
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Abstract

Abstract The invention relates to the beneficiation of both natural and artificial titaniferous ores, specifically ilmenites by adding to the ores a fluoride, preferably a normally insoluble fluoride in an amount such that the percentage of fluorine ion relative to the titania values lies between 13% and 50%, adding to the mixture hydrochloric acid, the fluorine ions acting as an activating agent. After dissolution, the titanium is precipitated out, as a mixture of titanium dioxide, titanium oxy hydroxy fluoride and titanium oxy fluoride, the iron values largely remaining in solution.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert Joseph William McLaughlin

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 15:27
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B34/00; C22B34/10; C22B34/12; C22B34/1236; C22B34/124; C22B34/1245; C22B3/00; C22B3/04; C22B3/06; C22B3/10; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 80 words
A process for the beneficiation of titaniferous ores including mixing the ore with an insoluble source of fluoride ions which source becomes soluble under the following conditions of the process, the fluoride concentration relative to the titania values in the ore lying between 13% and 50% by weight and heating the mixture with dilute hydrochloric acid at a temperature not more than atmospheric boiling point to thereby dissolve a substantial part of the titanium and iron values of the ore.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 80 words
A process for the beneficiation of titaniferous ores including mixing the ore with an insoluble source of fluoride ions which source becomes soluble under the following conditions of the process, the fluoride concentration relative to the titania values in the ore lying between 13% and 50% by weight and heating the mixture with dilute hydrochloric acid at a temperature not more than atmospheric boiling point to thereby dissolve a substantial part of the titanium and iron values of the ore.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the concentration of fluoride lies between 20% and 40% by weight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 13 words
A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fluoride is calcium fluoride.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the acid concentration lies between 20% and 25% (W/V).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
A process as claimed in claim 4 wherein the mixture is heated to the boiling point of the acid and whilst heating is agitated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 33 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein after dissolution the supernatent liquid is treated to precipitate the major part of the titanium values whilst leaving the iron and other values in solution.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 27 words
A process as claimed in claim 6 wherein the volume of the liquid is reduced to such a level that spontaneous precipitation of the titanium values occurs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 24 words
A process as claimed in claim 6 wherein precipitation is effected by the addition of a seed or a seeding material to the liquid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 49 words
A process as claimed in claim 6 wherein the solution is fed to an acid recovery plant from which hydrochloric acid which has a concentration of between 20% and 25% is obtained, the acid being fed to the digester, at about the temperature at which it leaves the plant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 57 words
A process as claimed in claim 6 wherein the precipitate is a mixture including titanium oxy hydroxy fluoride and titanium oxy fluoride and titanium dioxide, and said titanium oxy hydroxy fluoride is heated to decompose into titanium dioxide and titanium oxy fluoride which on further heating decomposes to titanium dioxide and titanium tetrafluoride which can be condensed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 30 words
A process as claimed in claim 10 wherein the titanium oxy hydroxy fluoride and titanium oxy fluoride are treated with hot steam and decomposed to titanium dioxide and hydrogen fluoride.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 105 words
A continuous process for the beneficiation of titaniferous ores as herein defined, including feeding ore and an insoluble fluoride to a rotary digester, the concentration of fluoride ions relating to the titania values in the ore lying between 13% and 50% by weight feeding hydrochloric acid having a concentration of between 20% and 25% (W/V) to the digester, heating the mixture and delivering from the digester, a liquid containing a large percentage of the titanium and iron values from the ore and solid materials which include unreacted ore, undissolved fluoride and inclusions from the core, treating and the liquid to precipitate the titanium values therefrom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 105 words
A continuous process for the beneficiation of titaniferous ores as herein defined, including feeding ore and an insoluble fluoride to a rotary digester, the concentration of fluoride ions relating to the titania values in the ore lying between 13% and 50% by weight feeding hydrochloric acid having a concentration of between 20% and 25% (W/V) to the digester, heating the mixture and delivering from the digester, a liquid containing a large percentage of the titanium and iron values from the ore and solid materials which include unreacted ore, undissolved fluoride and inclusions from the core, treating and the liquid to precipitate the titanium values therefrom.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 27 words
A process as claimed in claim 12 wherein the volume of the liquid is reduced to such a level that spontaneous precipitation of the titanium values occurs.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 24 words
A process as claimed in claim 12 wherein precipitation is effected by the addition of a seed or a seeding material to the liquid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 18 words
A process as claimed in claim 12 wherein material to agitate the mixture is added to the digester.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 107 words
A batch process for the beneficiation of titaniferous ores including adding to the ores, an insoluble fluoride which source becomes soluble under the following conditions of the process, at a fluoride ion concentration relating to the titania values lying between 13% and 50% by weight, adding hydrochloric acid having a concentration of between 20% and 25% by weight to a digester, heating the mixture, removing from the digester, a liquid containing a large percentage of the titanium and iron values from the ore and solid materials which include unreacted ore, fluoride and inclusions from the ore, and treating the liquid to selectively precipitate the titanium values therefrom.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 107 words
A batch process for the beneficiation of titaniferous ores including adding to the ores, an insoluble fluoride which source becomes soluble under the following conditions of the process, at a fluoride ion concentration relating to the titania values lying between 13% and 50% by weight, adding hydrochloric acid having a concentration of between 20% and 25% by weight to a digester, heating the mixture, removing from the digester, a liquid containing a large percentage of the titanium and iron values from the ore and solid materials which include unreacted ore, fluoride and inclusions from the ore, and treating the liquid to selectively precipitate the titanium values therefrom.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 27 words
A process as claimed in claim 16 wherein the value of the liquid is reduced to such a level that spontaneous precipitation of the titania values occurs.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 24 words
A process as claimed in claim 16 wherein precipitation is effected by the addition of a seed or a seeding material to the liquid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 87 words
A process for the beneficiation of titaniferous ores consisting essentially of mixing the ore with an insoluble source of fluoride ions which source becomes soluble under the following conditions of the process, the concentration of said source of fluoride relative to the titania values in the ore lying between 13% and 50% by weight and heating the mixture with dilute hydrochloric acid at a temperature not more than the atmospheric boiling point to thereby dissolve a substantial part of the titanium and iron values of the ore.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 87 words
A process for the beneficiation of titaniferous ores consisting essentially of mixing the ore with an insoluble source of fluoride ions which source becomes soluble under the following conditions of the process, the concentration of said source of fluoride relative to the titania values in the ore lying between 13% and 50% by weight and heating the mixture with dilute hydrochloric acid at a temperature not more than the atmospheric boiling point to thereby dissolve a substantial part of the titanium and iron values of the ore.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2113946A Cited
US2333663A Cited
US2576483A Cited
US2622964A Cited
US2812237A Cited
US2694617A Cited
US3167516A Cited
US3660078A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-11-14 1981-05-16 1981-11-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-11-14 1985-05-16 1985-11-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-11-14 1989-05-16 1989-11-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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