Pre-leaching or reduction treatment in the beneficiation of titaniferous iron ores

摘要

The purity of titanium dioxide obtained by the acid leaching of a titaniferous iron ore, such as ilmenite, is improved by heating the ore prior to acid leaching with a reducing agent mixture of (a) a carbonaceous reducing agent and/or hydrogen and (b) sulfur to convert and lower the ferric oxide contaminant content of the ore to acid-soluble ferrous oxide and ferrous sulfide.