A PROCESS FOR BENEFICIATING TITANIFEROUS ORES

摘要

1393786 Upgrading Ti ores WENDELL E DUNN Inc 18 April 1972 [29 April 1971] 17868/72 Heading C1N A titaniferous ore is upgraded by passing Cl 2 under reducing conditions at temperatures of 900-1100‹ C. through a fluidized bed of the ore containing ore particles of two different particle size fractions, the small sized ore fraction having a particle size distribution in the range of 60 to 95% by weight, - 100 to +200 mesh and containing sufficient titanium dioxide to reset with the iron oxide in the larger sized ore fraction having a particle size distribution in the range of 60 to 90% by weight, - 60 to +100 mesh, whereby the Ti values of the smaller sized ore fraction essentially replace the Fe values in the larger sized fraction, Fe being removed as chlorides. The small size fraction is preferably high silicate (ground, e.g. to - 72 to + 200 BSS) and is mixed with low silicate ore of larger size (e.g. - 60 to + 200 BSS) and with charcoal or coke. Preferably the Ti oxide content of the small size fraction corresponds stoichiometrically to the Fe oxide in the large size fraction, and is converted into TiCl 4 which reacts with the said Fe oxide, whereby the small fraction is consumed and silicate is released as fly ash. A stream may be withdrawn continuously from the bed, divided into magnetic and non- magnetic fractions, the non-magnetic fraction screened, into a large sized fraction and a small sized fraction and the small size fraction returned to the bed mixed with the magnetic fraction plus an appropriate amount of unchlorinated ore. Alternatively, where the ore has a high silicate content, partially chlorinated ore withdrawn from the bed may be screened, magnetically separated and crushed and the magnetic fraction of the crushed ore returned to the bed for further chlorination. Titanium fines resulting from the crushed magnetic portion of the larger sized particles may also be recycled.