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In addition to bubble–particle interaction, particle–particle interaction also has a significant influence on mineral flotation. Fine particles that coat the mineral surface prevent direct contact with collectors and/or air bubbles, thereby lowering flotation recovery. Calculating the particle interaction energy can help in evaluating the interaction behavior of particles. In this study, the floatability of coarse ilmenite (−151 + 74 μm) and different particle sizes (−45 + 25, −25 + 19, −19 μm) of forsterite with NaOL as a collector was investigated. The results showed that forsterite sizes of −45 + 25 and −25 + 19 μm had no effect on the ilmenite floatability, whereas −19 μm forsterite significantly reduced ilmenite floatability. A particle size analysis of artificially mixed minerals and a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the flotation products showed that heterogeneous aggregation occurred between ilmenite and −19 μm forsterite particles. The extended DLVO (Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek) theory was applied to calculate the interaction energy between mineral particles using data from zeta potential and contact angle measurements. The results showed that the interaction barriers between ilmenite (−151 + 74 μm) and forsterite (−45 + 25, −25 + 19, and −19 μm) were 11.94 × 103 kT, 8.23 × 103 kT and 4.09 × 103 kT, respectively. Additionally, the interaction barrier between forsterite particles smaller than 19 μm was 0.51 × 103 kT. The strength of the barrier decreased as the size of the forsterite decreased. Therefore, fine forsterite particles and aggregated forsterite can easily overcome the energy barrier, coating the ilmenite particle surface. This explains the effect of different forsterite sizes on the floatability of ilmenite and the underlying mechanism of particle interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the similar physical and chemical properties of ilmenite and olivine, separating them is challenging. The flotation process, with the use of collectors, is an effective method. In this study, a ternary collector consisting of aluminum ion (III), benzohydroxamic acid (BHA), and sodium oleate (NaOL) was prepared for the flotation separation of ilmenite and olivine. Through micro-flotation experiments, molecular dynamics simulation (MD), density functional theory (DFT), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) analysis, the synergistic effect between the components of the ternary collector and the adsorption configuration on the surface of ilmenite was investigated. The results revealed that at pH = 8, Al (III), BHA, and NaOL could coordinate and adsorb effectively on the surface of ilmenite, enhancing its floatability for separation from olivine. The adsorption configuration differed from previous reports, showing a co-adsorption of multiple forms on the surface of ilmenite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type II chondrules have higher oxidation states than type I chondrules; in ordinary chondrites (OC), type II chondrules tend to be larger, richer in bulk Fe, and have higher densities than type I chondrules. Magnesian type IA chondrules tend to be richer in 16O than type II chondrules. Because the aerodynamic behavior of a particle is a function of the product of its size and density, type I and type II chondrules (or their precursors) were partly separated in the ordinary chondrite zone of the solar nebula prior to the accretion of OC parent asteroids. LL chondrites acquired a chondrule population with the highest type II/type I ratios, L chondrites acquired chondrules with an intermediate ratio, and H chondrites acquired chondrules with the lowest type II/type I ratios. This contributed to the observed differences among OC groups in oxidation state and O‐isotopic composition: in going from H to L to LL, mean oxidation state increases and mean Δ17O values increase. Higher oxidation is marked by increases in the FeO contents of olivine, low‐Ca pyroxene, chromite, and ilmenite; increases in the TiO2 content of chromite; and increases in the Co content of kamacite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Akimotoite, ilmenite-type MgSiO3 high-pressure polymorph can be stable in the lower-mantle transition zone along average mantle and subducting slab geotherms. Significant amounts of Al2O3 can be incorporated into the structure, having the pyrope (Mg3Al2Si3O12) composition. Previous studies have investigated the effect of Al2O3 on its crystal structure at nearly endmember compositions. In this study, we synthesized high-quality ilmenite-type Mg3Al2Si3O12 phase at 27 GPa and 1073 K by means of a Kawai-type multi-anvil press and refined the crystal structure at ambient conditions using a synchrotron X-ray diffraction data via the Rietveld method to examine the effect of Al2O3. The unit-cell lattice parameters were determined to be a = 4.7553(7) Å, c = 13.310(2) Å, and V = 260.66(6) Å3, with Z = 6 (hexagonal, R 3 ¯ ). The volume of the present phase was placed on the akimotoite-corundum endmember join. However, the refined structure showed a strong nonlinear behavior of the a- and c-axes, which can be explained by Al incorporation into the MgO6 and SiO6 octahedral sites, which are distinctly different each other. Ilmenite-type Mg3Al2Si3O12 phase may be found in shocked meteorites and can be a good indicator for shock conditions at relatively low temperatures of 1027–1127 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ilmenite (Fe2+TiO3) and geikielite (MgTiO3) are important terrestrial minerals relevant to the geology of the Earth, the Moon, Mars, and meteorite samples. Raman spectroscopy is a powerful technique that allows for mineral cation determination for the ilmenite-geikielite solid solution. We report on a suite of nine samples within the ilmenite-geikielite solid solution and provide context for their quantitative interpretation. We compare a univariate Raman peak position model for predicting ilmenite composition with a multivariate machine learning model. The univariate model is currently recommended, though the multivariate model may become superior if the data set size is increased. This study lays the groundwork for quantifying Fe (ilmenite) and Mg (geikielite) within oxide minerals using a cheap, portable, and efficient technology like Raman spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the difficulty of extracting titanium from ilmenite, this study modified ilmenite by alkali roasting to improve the leaching rate of titanium. The leaching behaviour and kinetics of titanium in pretreated slag and the mechanism of limiting titanium leaching were studied. The results indicate that alkaline roasting pre-treatment of the ilmenite ore can transform acid-resistant FeTiO3 into more reactive Na2TiO3 and NaFeO2, which are more amenable to leaching. Simultaneously, under the following pre-treatment conditions—a sodium hydroxide to ilmenite ore mass ratio of 1.5:1, roasting temperature of 1123.15 K and roasting time of 1 h—the optimal leaching conditions are found to be a leaching temperature of 363.15 K, sulphuric acid mass fraction of 60% and liquid–solid mass ratio of 6:1. Under these conditions, the titanium extraction was most efficient, achieving a titanium leaching rate of 97.36%. The leaching reaction of titanium in the pre-treated slag follows the shrinking core model of the internal diffusion-controlled step. The apparent activation energy for the leaching reaction is determined to be 77.45 kJ/mol. Analysis through XRD, XPS and SEM–EDS reveals the formation of silica gel during leaching, which also has an adsorption effect, preventing complete titanium leaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this study, a novel approach for the environmentally conscious extraction of titanium dioxide from ilmenite ore while limiting the environmental impact and enhancing the advantage from an economic process. Leaching conditions were tested with different acids for effective separation of the TiO2 and were optimized concerning different experimental parameters. TiO2 and TiO2NPs were characterized using with different tools. Catechol polyurethane foam immobilized with TiO2NPs was prepared and its antimicrobial action was tested against Gram-negative bacterium E. coli, Gram-positive bacterium B. cereus, and fungus A. niger. CAT-PUF /TiO2NPs showed antimicrobial effect against E. coli, B. cereus, and A. niger with inhibition zones of 27 ± 0.14, 12 ± 0.14, and 22 ± 0.06 mm, respectively. Incorporating bioinformatics, this research contributes to the burgeoning field of nanotechnology-enabled antimicrobial materials, offering insights into the potential applications of CAT-PUF/TiO2NPs in combating microbial threats. Through bio-informatics tools, the potential toxicity of the synthesized nanoparticles was assessed, providing valuable insights into their safety profile and environmental impact. Furthermore, simulating the binding affinity between the nanoparticles and target biomolecules, such as cell membrane proteins or enzyme receptors, this aspect of the research sheds light on the mechanistic underpinnings of their antimicrobial efficacy.

This is an article in the field of ceramics and composites. Taking ilmenite ore as the research object, the possible phase transformation of FeTiO3 in concrete liquid phase environment was analyzed in order to provide a basis for the utilization of ilmenite tailings. The thermodynamic stability of ilmenite (FeTiO3) was analyzed by thermodynamic calculation. Ilmenite ore powder was soaked in simulated concrete pore solution at 20 ℃ and 80 ℃ for 28 d and 270 d, XRD and SEM/EDS were used to detect mineral transformation. Using ilmenite ore to replace part of the gravel to prepare concrete, the influence on concrete strength at 20 ℃ and 80 ℃ was studied respectively. The results of thermodynamic calculations show that FeTiO3 is unstable in the environment of O2 and converts into Fe3O4 or Fe2O3 and TiO2. The immersion experiment of ilmenite in the simulated concrete pore solution shows that ilmenite has no obvious changes. The concrete strength test shows that at 20 ℃ and 80 ℃, when ilmenite ore replaces 5% crushed stone, the compressive strength of concrete increases, and when the replacement is 15%, the compressive strength decreases, the reason is that the quartz in the ilmenite ore has undergone an alkali aggregate reaction.

Akimotoite, ilmenite-type MgSiO3 high-pressure polymorph can be stable in the lower-mantle transition zone along average mantle and subducting slab geotherms. Significant amounts of Al2O3 can be incorporated into the structure, having the pyrope (Mg3Al2Si3O12) composition. Previous studies have investigated the effect of Al2O3 on its crystal structure at nearly endmember compositions. In this study, we synthesized high-quality ilmenite-type Mg3Al2Si3O12 phase at 27 GPa and 1073 K by means of a Kawai-type multi-anvil press and refined the crystal structure at ambient conditions using a synchrotron X-ray diffraction data via the Rietveld method to examine the effect of Al2O3. The unit-cell lattice parameters were determined to be a = 4.7553(7) Å, c = 13.310(2) Å, and V = 260.66(6) Å3, with Z = 6 (hexagonal, R3¯). The volume of the present phase was placed on the akimotoite-corundum endmember join. However, the refined structure showed a strong nonlinear behavior of the a- and c-axes, which can be explained by Al incorporation into the MgO6 and SiO6 octahedral sites, which are distinctly different each other. Ilmenite-type Mg3Al2Si3O12 phase may be found in shocked meteorites and can be a good indicator for shock conditions at relatively low temperatures of 1027–1127 K.

The Ghansura Rhyolite Dome (GRD) is an integral part of the Bathani volcano-sedimentary sequence (BVSs), which in turn is a vital component of the Chotanagpur Granite Gneiss Complex (CGGC), eastern India. The rhyolite dome represents a shallow-level felsic magma chamber that underwent intrusion by basaltic magma during its evolution. The rocks present in the felsic dome such as basalts, rhyolites, and intermediate hybrid rocks preserve evidence of magma mixing and mingling. The objective of this contribution is to take into account, for the first time, that magma mixing processes can play an important role in the generation of calcite in magmatic rocks. The present study focuses on the mingled rocks exposed within the rhyolite dome. Previous reports have documented the existence of two distinct zones (mafic and felsic) interfacing each other in the mingled rocks of the rhyolite dome. The mafic zones dominantly consist of mineral phases such as actinolite, hornblende, biotite, plagioclase, ilmenite, calcite, and titanite. The felsic zones comprise quartz, K-feldspar, plagioclase, and biotite. When mafic magma intruded into the felsic magma chamber, interaction between the mafic and felsic magmas caused diffusion of H, Al, and K ions from the felsic to the mafic endmember. Such diffusive activities resulted in the breakdown of augite, already crystallized in the mafic magma, to form newer minerals like actinolite, hornblende, biotite, calcite, and ilmenite. The presence of ilmenite in the mingled rocks indicates the prevalence of reducing conditions during magma interaction and evolution. Breakdown of hornblende to biotite in such a reduced environmental condition led to the formation of calcite in the mingled rocks. From the results presented in this work, we are proposing that magma mixing can be a viable mechanism to form calcite in igneous rocks by magmatic processes.

The community in Central Bangka Regency carried out an increase in illegal mining in 2021, which could potentially threaten the loss of strategic natural resources. Rocking table miners in Central Bangka Regency produce zircon sand, tin sand, monazite, ilmenite, and tailings, which are potential natural resources containing rare earth metal elements. This research aims to analyze the radioactive content of the minerals zircon sand, tin sand, monazite, ilmenite, and tailings as a threat to human health. The research showed that monazite samples from all villages still had a lot of rare earth metals in them, like yttrium (Y), lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), samarium (Sm), neodymium (Nd), and gadolinium (Gd). The test results showed that monazite had the highest average concentrations of Rare Earth Elements (REEs), with values of 10.27±3% for La, 12.15±3% for Ce, 24.40±3% for Sm, 7.37±3% for Nd, and 0.69±3% for Gd. For tin samples, the average (Ce) was 2.79±3%, zircon samples had an average (Ce) of 4.33±3%, and (Nd) 1.04±3%. In the ilmenite samples, the average value (Y) was 6.64 ± 3%. Monazite has the most rare earth metal elements, but it has a very low selling price. Monazite plays a crucial role in safeguarding and preventing the loss of strategic natural resources and health threats. It provides policy advice to related institutions through various roles and functions, including investigation, early prevention, and forecasting of these threats.

Abstract A high-density water-based drilling fluid (WBDF) is crucial for maintaining wellbore stability, controlling formation pressures, and optimizing drilling performance in challenging subsurface conditions. In the present research, the effect of micronized calcium carbonate (calcite), extracted from the Aruma formation outcrop, is evaluated as one of the additives that could be added to the ilmenite-weighted WBDF to enhance and optimize its properties. Various concentrations of Calcite microparticles were introduced into identical fluid formulations to assess their impact. The concentrations ranged from 0, 10, 20, to 30 lb/bbl, providing a comprehensive examination of the effects of calcite microparticles across a spectrum of concentrations within the fluid. The results highlighted that adding Barite microparticles to the WBDF revealed a notable enhancement in rheological properties. Specifically, the yield point demonstrated an increase of 37%, 37%, and 11% for concentrations of 10, 20, and 30 lb/bbl of calcite, respectively. Equally significant, high-pressure-high-temperature (HPHT) filtration analysis indicated a considerable enhancement for the fluids containing calcite microparticles. A reduction of 14.5%, 24.6%, and 13% were observed in HPHT filtrate for concentrations of 10 lb/bbl, 20 lb/bbl, and 30 lb/bbl respectively. Simultaneously, there is a reduction in filter cake thickness by 20%, 40%, and 20%, respectively. No ilmenite settling was observed in the sample containing 20 lb/bbl of calcite, unlike the other concentrations. These diverse results strongly suggest that the optimal concentration for calcite microparticles is 20 lb/bbl. The combined utilization of the optimal concentration of calcite microparticles alongside the established additives proves to be an effective strategy for optimizing the ilmenite-weighted WBDF performance in terms of both thermal stability and rheological behavior.

Minerals containing TiO2 are common in Indonesia, such as ilmenite in iron sand deposits scattered along the country's coasts. Ilmenite is an important source of titanium. One method for making TiO2 from ilmenite is by solubilizing both the Fe and Ti elements in HCl and then immediately hydrolyze the Ti. The leaching of low-grade ilmenite (ground to 0.177-0.149 mm) is studied kinetically by HCl in a stirred reactor. The research was conducted using the caustic fusion method followed by HCl leaching. The leaching reaction kinetics at the optimum conditions are analyzed using response surface methodology (RSM) with a second-order polynomial equation model and SSE with the shrinking core model (SCM). The results showed that HCl concentration and leaching time were directly proportional to the leached titanium concentration. In contrast, the leaching temperature was inversely proportional. The optimum operating conditions were obtained at a temperature of 30 °C, 9 M HCl, and 120 min of leaching time. The shrinking core model is a better representation of the kinetics than RSM with a second-order polynomial equation model. Based on SCM, the rate of the leaching reaction of titanium from low-grade ilmenite is controlled by diffusion through the ash layer.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are fluorinated and refractory pollutants that are ubiquitous in industrial wastewater. Photocatalytic destruction of such pollutants with catalysts such as TiO2 and ZnO is an attractive avenue for removal of PFAS, but refined forms of such photocatalysts are expensive. This study, for the first time, utilized milled unrefined raw mineral ilmenite, coupled to UV-C irradiation to achieve mineralization of the two model PFAS compounds perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoro octane sulfonic acid (PFOS). Results obtained using a bench-scale photocatalytic reactor system demonstrated rapid removal kinetics of PFAS compounds (>90% removal in less than 10 h) in environmentally-relevant concentrations (200–1000 ppb). Raw ilmenite was reused over three consecutive degradation cycles of PFAS, retaining >80% removal efficiency. Analysis of degradation products indicated defluorination and the presence of shorter-chain PFAS intermediates in the initial samples. End samples indicated the disappearance of short-chain PFAS intermediates and further accumulation of fluoride ions, suggesting that original PFAS compounds underwent mineralization due to an oxygen-radical-based photocatalytic destruction mechanism induced by TiO2 present in ilmenite and UV irradiation. The outcome of this study implies that raw ilmenite coupled to UV-C is suitable for cost-effective reactor operation and efficient photocatalytic destruction of PFAS compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avoiding the formation of anosovite phase during the ilmenite reduction process is crucial for the preparation of boiling chloride stove. In this study, the dominant regions of different reduction products of ilmenite in CO-CO2 system and the phase transformation behavior of pure ilmenite in the reduction process were studied by XRD and SEM-EDS analysis. It was confirmed that the reduction of ilmenite (FeTiO3) at < 1150°C went through two stages: the formation of metal iron (Fe) with rutile (TiO2) and metal iron (Fe) with anosovite (Ti3O5). At > 1150°C, the reduction of ilmenite went through two stages: the formation of metal iron (Fe) with pseudobrookite (FeTi2O5) and metal iron (Fe) with anosovite (Ti3O5). As a typical ilmenite resource, Panzhihua ilmenite is used to study the reduction behavior of actual ore in CO-CO2 system. The reaction of forming metal iron (Fe) with pseudobrookite (FeTi2O5) could occur at 1000°C, and magnesium was dissolved in the product during the formation of anosovite. The presence of magnesium reduces the dominant area of metal iron (Fe) with rutile (TiO2), which is not conducive to the reduction of iron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The results of research on the processing of ilmenite concentrate from the Obukhovskoye deposit are presented in this article. As the concentrate has a high chromium content, the study involved converting the iron into metal and the titanium into slag through the addition of soda. Positive results were obtained during the smelting of the ilmenite concentrate, and a one-stage smelting mode was established. This mode involved an increase in the temperature up to 1700 °C, with a heating step of 10 °C/min and using an argon supply. The holding time at this temperature was 30 min, followed by cooling to 700 °C in argon. The optimal parameters for sintering the non-magnetic fraction with soda and leaching the sinter with water and hydrochloric acid solution were also determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the increasing relevance of lunar activities, the location selection for in situ resource utilisation (ISRU) facilities is necessary for identifying the most suitable configuration duringmission planning. To gather information about the dominant location dependencies, a scenario is established wherein an ISRU product is exported to an orbital depot and its mass costs are used for classification. In the selected scenario, oxygen is produced in an ilmenite reduction plant and subsequently exported to the lunar gateway via an oxygen--hydrogen fuelled launcher operated in a round-trip to refuel oxygen at the lunar surface and hydrogen at the lunar gateway. This showed that the transport cost variations could be avoided entirely or have a recessive influence on the mission's total costs over an extended period of time, such as 20 years. The identification of the top-10 most optimal locations for various resolutions was altered only slightly upon consideration of flight costs as compared to considering only the ISRU factors; this indicates the insignificance of flight cost dependencies for the analysed case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high-density water-based drilling fluid (WBDF) is crucial for maintaining wellbore stability, controlling formation pressures, and optimizing drilling performance in challenging subsurface conditions. In the present research, the effect of micronized calcium carbonate (calcite), extracted from the Aruma formation outcrop, is evaluated as one of the additives that could be added to the ilmenite-weighted WBDF to enhance and optimize its properties. Various concentrations of Calcite microparticles were introduced into identical fluid formulations to assess their impact. The concentrations ranged from 0, 10, 20, to 30 lb/bbl, providing a comprehensive examination of the effects of calcite microparticles across a spectrum of concentrations within the fluid. The results highlighted that adding Barite microparticles to the WBDF revealed a notable enhancement in rheological properties. Specifically, the yield point demonstrated an increase of 37%, 37%, and 11% for concentrations of 10, 20, and 30 lb/bbl of calcite, respectively. Equally significant, high-pressure-high-temperature (HPHT) filtration analysis indicated a considerable enhancement for the fluids containing calcite microparticles. A reduction of 14.5%, 24.6%, and 13% were observed in HPHT filtrate for concentrations of 10 lb/bbl, 20 lb/bbl, and 30 lb/bbl respectively. Simultaneously, there is a reduction in filter cake thickness by 20%, 40%, and 20%, respectively. No ilmenite settling was observed in the sample containing 20 lb/bbl of calcite, unlike the other concentrations. These diverse results strongly suggest that the optimal concentration for calcite microparticles is 20 lb/bbl. The combined utilization of the optimal concentration of calcite microparticles alongside the established additives proves to be an effective strategy for optimizing the ilmenite-weighted WBDF performance in terms of both thermal stability and rheological behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the influence of adding rinsed ilmenite mud waste (R-MUD) on the microstructure of Portland cement composites, compared to similar composites containing fly ash (FA). The aim of the study is the assessment of the pozzolanic activity of ilmenite mud waste by its impact on the microstructure of the cement matrix in comparison to the undoubted pozzolanic activity of fly ash. The presented test results include pore size distribution, phase composition, pozzolanic activity using thermal analysis, R3 bound water test, and microstructural analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Tests were performed on mortars cured for up to 360 days. The results presented in this paper have shown that R-MUD has a pozzolanic activity level similar to FA or better, which influences pore size distribution in the composite and its microstructure. During the curing process, the microstructure of composites containing R-MUD became more compact and sealed than those with FA, which might also increase their durability. The results of the R3 tests have proven the pozzolanic activity of R-MUD but its level was lower than FA. R-MUD might be a useful substitute for fly ash, especially given the lack of good-quality fly ash on the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aggregates of ilmenite with varying amounts of rutile, ferropseudobrookite, and pseudorutile in suevites from the Ries impact structure have been analyzed by light microscopy, analytical scanning electron microscopy, electron microprobe analysis, and Raman spectroscopy to constrain their formation conditions. The tens to hundreds of micrometer aggregates comprise isometric ilmenite grains up to 15 μm in diameter that form a foam structure (i.e., smoothly curved grain boundaries and 120° angles at triple junctions). Grains with foam structure show no internal misorientations, indicating a post-impact formation. In contrast, ilmenite grains with internal misorientation occurring in the core of the aggregates are interpreted as shocked remnant ilmenite originating from the target gneisses. They can contain twin lamellae that share a common {11 2 0} plane with the host, and the c-axis is oriented at an angle of 109° to that of the host. Similarly, the new grains with foam structure display up to three orientation domains, sharing one common {11 2 0} plane for each pair of domains and c-axes at angles of 109° and 99°, respectively. This systematic orientation relationship likely reflects a cubic supersymmetry resulting from the transformation of the initial ilmenite upon shock (>16 GPa) to a transient perovskite-type high-pressure phase (liuite), subsequent retrograde transformation to the polymorph wangdaodeite, and then back-transformation to ilmenite. Whereas, the new grains with foam structure formed from complete transformation, the twin domains in the shocked ilmenite are interpreted to represent only partial transformation. Ferropseudobrookite occurs mostly near the rim of the aggregates. An intergrowth of ferropseudobrookite, ilmenite, and rutile, as well as magnetite or rarely armalcolite occurs at contact with the (devitrified) matrix. The presence of ferropseudobrookite indicates high temperature (>1140 °C) and reducing conditions. The surrounding matrix provided Mg2+ to form the ferropseudobrookite-armalcolite solid solution. Rutile can occur within the aggregates and/or along the ilmenite boundaries; it is interpreted to have formed together with iron during the decomposition of ilmenite at lower temperatures (850–1050 °C). We suggest magnetite in the rims formed by electrochemical gradients driven by the presence of a reducing agent, where Fe2+ within ilmenite diffused toward the rim. Subsequent cooling under oxidizing conditions led to the formation of magnetite from the iron-enriched rim as well as pseudorutile around ilmenite grains. Our study demonstrates that the specific crystallographic relationships of ilmenite grains with foam structure indicate a back-transformation from high (shock) pressures >16 GPa; moreover, the presence of associated Fe-Ti-oxides helps indicate local temperature and oxygen fugacity conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detailed mineralogical and geochemical studies of Ti-Fe oxides from gabbroids of the Nauruz and Utlyktash post-subductional complexes, West Magnitogorsk Zone, South Urals, have been carried out. The polygenic nature of Ti-Fe mineralization in Nauruz sill, Utlyktash layered lopolith and Uraz intrusion rocks has been established. The Nauruz massif is dominated by titanomagnetite, which crystallized both from the Ti-Fe-oxide liquid at the early magmatic stage and from the residual Ti-Fe-enriched silicate melt at the intermediate and late magmatic stages (~970–800°C). The most rich in Ti-Fe oxides (Fe2 O3 * up to 20.1 wt %, TiO2 up to 1.6 wt %, and V up to 430 ppm) is the middle zone of the sill associated with intrusion of magma enriched in orthopyroxene phenocrysts. Both titanomagnetite and ilmenite are widespread in the Utlyktash lopolith, forming the richest accumulations in the lower part of the massif (Fe2 O3 * up to 18.1 wt %, TiO2 up to 2.9 wt %, and V up to 545 g/t) due to gravitational settling of crystallizing phases. The gabbroids of the Uraz intrusion are similar in mineral and chemical composition, but differ from the Utlyktash lopolith in the patterns of formation of Ti-Fe mineralization, which requires a special study. In general, the geological settings for the formation of the Nauruz sill and Utlyktash lopolith are quite favorable for the formation of economic Fe-Ti ores.

The study focuses on the comparison of the chemical and mineral composition of Lunar regolith probes from Luna-16, -20, -24 stations and their the seacontinent environments. Using microprobe JXA-8200 and JSM-5610LV (400 analyses, 50 images, 9 fragments of layer-by-layer core samples) 18 mineral phases and their 12 varieties were diagnosed. The most common are ironmagnesium and calcium-bearing varieties of silicates – anortite, clinopyroxenes and olivine. The typomorphic features of rock-forming minerals in two types of the lunar surface are discussed. The composition of chromespinelids is demonstrated on a triangular prism diagram.

A green technique that emerged as a promise in the degradation of numerous organic contaminants is photocatalysis. The aim of this study concerns photocatalytic degradation of organic using titanium dioxide nano particles (TiO2 NPs) which syntheses from ilmenite by different leaching methods using different ingredients such as HCl, HNO3 and Aqua Regia. The affecting factors such as rate of addition, reaction time, ilmenite grain size, acid to ilmenite ratio and reaction temperature were conducted. Comprehensive physicochemical characterization of Ilmenite and TiO2 NPs were conducted using different analytical techniques such as XRD, XRF, SEM, TEM and FTIR. Photocatalytic degradation of organics is confirmed by studies of affecting factors on the effectiveness of TiO2 NPs such as dose, agitation forces, light intensity, initial concentration, pH, time, and temperature. The removal percentages of TSS, COD, BOD and TN of organics were explored. From the results the maximum removal percentage of TSS were 97.3 and 96.9% before and after secondary treatment conducted using ferric chloride (FC). The maximum removal percentage of TKN, BOD, and COD before secondary treatment were conducted using mixture of TiO2 NPs, FC, and chitosan, which reached 44.2, 44 and 46.3%, respectively. The maximum removal percentage of TKN, BOD, and COD after secondary treatment were conducted using mixture of TiO2 NPs, FC, and chitosan, which reached 94.9, 99.7 and 99.6%, respectively. Overall, the results derived from this investigation suggest that the TiO2 NPs/UV holds significant advanced treatment of sewage water, making it a viable choice for water reuse applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, an effort has been made to prepare aluminum alloy (hypereutectic Al-Si17Cu4Mg)-based composites reinforced with ilmenite (FeTiO3; sea beach mineral). For the study, fine-sized (32-50 µm) and dual-sized (F:C:: 4:1, where F (32-50 µm) and C (75-106 µm)) ilmenite particles (15 wt.%) have been selected as reinforcement. In the metallic matrix, homogeneous distribution of ilmenite particles was observed through optical microscopy. Here, primary and secondary silicon refinement has also been observed up to ~ 60% as a result of incorporation of ilmenite particles. When compared to hypereutectic Al-Si17Cu4Mg alloy, the prepared composite samples exhibited ~ 10% higher wear resistance. Further, the presence of lubricating additives (graphite and tin) in the composite samples decreased the overall ~ 9% wear loss. The wear behavior of composite sample was compared to that of grey cast iron to evaluate the industrial utility of prepared sample. Based on these results, a detailed wear loss mechanism has also been proposed under 68.67 N as applied load for 3000 m sliding distance in which the dominance of delamination wear was observed over adhesive wear in SEM microstructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma technology has emerged as a very helpful tool in a variety of sectors, notably metallurgy. Innovators and scientists are focused on the problem of finding a more ecologically friendly way of extracting titanium and iron metal from natural ilmenite concentrate for industrial applications. A direct current (DC) plasma torch operating at atmospheric pressure is used in this study to describe a decarbonization process for reducing an ilmenite concentrate. The plasma gases employed in this torch are CO2 and CH4. The molar ratio of the gases may be crucial for achieving a satisfactory reduction of the ilmenite concentrate. As a result, two molar ratios for CO2/CH4 have been chosen: 1:1 and 2:1. During torch operation, a thin layer of graphite is formed on the cathode to establish a protective barrier, prolonging the cathode's life. The material was analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The output gases were analyzed using mass spectrometry (MS). In addition, a thermodynamic analysis was performed to predict the development of thermodynamically stable phases. An economic assessment (including capital expenditures (CAPEX) and operating expenditures (OPEX)) and a carbon balance were developed with the feasibility of the piloting in mind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black sand is beach deposits that come from the headwaters of the Nile, which are rich in heavy minerals. The major economic mineral is ilmenite. It represents around 60 – 70 % of economic minerals quantity. To increase the adding value of the national resources, a series of experiments to study the smelting process for producing high Titania slag and cast iron. The effect of many factors such as time (20, 25 & 30 min), carbon content (15 %, 20 % & 30 %) and using a flux (1 %, 2 % & 3 %) were studied. The results revealed that time of the experiment has the most significant affecting on the iron yield among other factors. The maximum obtained iron yield was about 80.5 % and the assay of titanium dioxide in Titania slag was about 77.6 % for 30% carbon at 30 minutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of new tanning agents in the leather sector is urgently needed to cope with the increasing environmental pressure on the use of current tanning materials and processes. The best alternative tanning agent to replace chromium which is not environmentally friendly is titanium-based sulfate salts (IV). These compounds are most recommended to be developed and used in new, cleaner tanning processes for the leather industry. The main source of Ti(SO4)2 comes from the mineral ilmenite (FeTiO3) extracted using H2SO4. The extraction process will produce a mixture of Ti(SO4)2 and Fe(SO4) in the H2SO4-FeSO4-Ti(SO4)2-H2O system at high acidity of H2SO4. The purpose of this study is to separate each of these compounds based on their solubility in methyl alcohol. This study discusses the comparison of feed and residue with FTIR, residual characteristics with XRD and XRF. While the results of quantitative analysis of each final product of Ti(SO4)2 and Fe(SO4) compounds using XRF. Qualitative results using FTIR show that Ti(SO4)2 images are different from FeSO4. The %recovery result in the optimal state of H2SO4 extraction obtained Ti(SO4)2 was 20.6%, while FeSO4 was only 9.2% from the feed of 30 g ilmenite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shergottites have provided abundant information on the volcanic and impact history of Mars. Northwest Africa (NWA) 14672 contributes to both of these aspects. It is a vesicular ophitic depleted olivine–phyric shergottite, with average plagioclase An61Ab39Or0.2. It is highly ferroan, with pigeonite compositions En49‐25Fs41‐61Wo10‐14 like those of basaltic shergottites, for example, NWA 12335. Olivine (Fo53‐15) has discrete ferroan overgrowths, more ferroan when in contact with plagioclase than when enclosed by pyroxene. The pyroxene (a continuum of augite, subcalcic augite, and pigeonite) is patchy, with ragged "cores" enveloped or invaded by ferroan pyroxene. Magma mixing may be responsible for capture of olivine and formation of pyroxene mantles. The plagioclase is maskelynite‐like in appearance, but the original laths were (congruently) melted and the melt partly crystallized as fine dendrites. Most of the 14% vesicles occur within plagioclase. Olivine, pyroxene, and ilmenite occur in part as fine aggregates crystallized after congruent melting with limited subsequent liquid mixing. There are two fine‐grained melt components, barred plagioclase with interstitial Fe‐bearing phases, and glass with olivine dendrites, derived by melting of mainly plagioclase and mainly pyroxene, respectively. Rare silica particles contain coesite and/or quartz, and silica glass. The rock has experienced >50% melting, compatible with peak pressure >~65 GPa. It is the most highly shocked shergottite so far, at shock stage S6/7. It may belong to the group of depleted shergottites ejected at ~1 Myr from Tooting Crater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large Mo isotopic fractionations between diferent geological reservoirs make this isotopic system a potentially useful tool for constraining the origins of magmatism. However, the efect of magmatic diferentiation on Mo isotopes is still controversial. In this study, we obtained Mo isotope data for the Panzhihua gabbroic intrusion (i.e., including mineral separates of clinopyroxene, plagioclase, magnetite, and ilmenite). The whole-rock samples and mineral separates exhibit large Mo isotopic fractionations with δ98/95Mo values as follows: magnetite (–0.73‰ to –0.32‰) < clinopyroxene (–0.32‰ to –0.10‰) < ilmenite (0.06‰ to 0.36‰) < plagioclase (0.33‰ to 0.83‰). Iron-Ti oxides have Mo contents that are one order of magnitude higher than those of clinopyroxene and plagioclase. Mass balance calculations based on Mo isotopes and contents are consistent with an accumulated origin for the Panzhihua intrusion. Rayleigh fractionation modeling shows that the removal of magnetite and ilmenite results in significant Mo isotopic fractionation in the residual magma. Due to the low Mo contents of clinopyroxene and plagioclase, Mo isotopes are not significantly fractionated by the removal of these minerals. Therefore, our study highlights that fractionation of Fe-Ti oxides can cause considerable Mo isotopic fractionation; consequently, caution is needed when using Mo isotopes to infer magma origins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the similar physical and chemical properties of ilmenite and olivine, separating them is challenging. The flotation process, with the use of collectors, is an effective method. In this study, a ternary collector consisting of aluminum ion (III), benzohydroxamic acid (BHA), and sodium oleate (NaOL) was prepared for the flotation separation of ilmenite and olivine. Through micro-flotation experiments, molecular dynamics simulation (MD), density functional theory (DFT), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) analysis, the synergistic effect between the components of the ternary collector and the adsorption configuration on the surface of ilmenite was investigated. The results revealed that at pH = 8, Al (III), BHA, and NaOL could coordinate and adsorb effectively on the surface of ilmenite, enhancing its floatability for separation from olivine. The adsorption configuration differed from previous reports, showing a co-adsorption of multiple forms on the surface of ilmenite.

Targeted synthesis of oxynitride composites is implemented by means of organizing coupled processes. Interaction of ferrosilicon with nitrogen during combustion is considered as the main (inducing) process. The phase composition of the products of the coupled processes is determined by the chemical and phase compositions of the components added to ferrosilicon before performing self-propagating high-temperature synthesis. The influence of the basic products of the synthesis on the burning rate, fraction of nitrogen, phase composition, and morphology of synthesis products is considered. Chemical stages of ferrosilicon interaction with additives of natural minerals (zircon, ilmenite, and shungite) and aluminum in a nitrogen medium are demonstrated. The phase composition is determined by chemical transformations in a combustion wave. It is found that addition of aluminum leads to reduction or elimination of the Si2N2O phase in synthesis products with an increase in the aluminum fraction and obtaining composites based on the Si3N4 (SiAlON) solid solution. The microstructure of combustion products is presented by aggregates (5–10 m) composed of small faceted crystals, shapeless structures, and crystal flakes. Oxynitride composites with an open porosity value of 51.0–68.8% are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic study on the mechano-thermic reduction of low-grade ilmenite concentrate for the production of high-grade TiO2 powder used in the production of non-oxide ceramics for cutting tool applications has been successfully carried out. Samples were prepared via planetary ball milling and carbothermic reduction processes, and the as-reduced product was subsequently leached in order to improve the synthesized TiO2 by removing the metallic iron in it and other minor soluble impurities dissolved in the iron. The mechano-thermic reduction was achieved by milling a representative mixture of ilmenite and carbon in a molar ratio of 1:1, followed by carbothermic reduction at 1000 °C in a laboratory high-temperature furnace for 60 min. The as-reduced product was subsequently leached at 80 °C for 6 h in a hydrochloric acid solution. It was found that there was a complete reduction of ilmenite to metallic iron and TiO2 at 1000 °C. The results of the FESEM showed there were only two distinct regions of metallic iron (bright region) and titanium dioxide (grey region) with minor traces of unreacted carbon (dark spots), although there was clear regional demarcation between these regions. However, the iron dissolution during the acid treatment was almost 100% as there were no peaks of iron in the as-leached powder. The results of these analyses confirmed the synthesis of high-grade TiO2, which finds application in cutting tool applications and other areas such as in reflective pigment production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate computational modeling allows the use of software as a first approach to some petrological problems that typically require experimentation, but most programs have not yet been fully tested for accuracy with lunar or Martian melt compositions. The programs pMELTS, MAGPOX, and Perple_X stand out for phase equilibrium modeling, as their calibrations include experiments of lunar compositions or have precise thermodynamic constraints for similar compositions. A set of lunar mare basalts, picritic glasses, and basaltic Martian compositions with known experimentally determined multiple saturation point (MSP) conditions were used here for phase equilibrium modeling. The accuracy of each program was tested through the determination of MSPs on the liquidus of the selected compositions. This point in pressure–temperature space can be considered as a direct proxy of the stable phases and the equilibrium conditions during partial melting of mantle sources. We identify a trend in experimental data between MSP temperature and MgO, CaO, and SiO2 concentrations, and similar trends are found in model results. However, only Perple_X is able to closely match the experimental data, despite the fact it does not accurately model ilmenite saturation for high‐Ti lunar basalts. We find that pMELTS miscalculates olivine saturation for MgO‐rich compositions and MAGPOX systematically underestimates MSP pressure and temperatures and can only be used when olivine is the liquidus phase. For modeling lunar or Martian basalt compositions, Perple_X can be used for optimal results, although no software is yet capable of bypassing the need to constrain MSP conditions through experimentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium oxide is a major component of bauxite residue (BR) with a high value, but it is often an unwanted element in common BR reuse options such as cement or iron production. Conventional carbothermic reduction smelting of BR produces a slag still containing a large amount of Ti. This study investigates an aluminothermic process for producing an FeTi alloy by combining BR, ilmenite ore, and fluxes. Based on thermodynamic calculations and batch experiments, the amounts of aluminum (reductant) and fluxes were investigated to achieve the optimum alloy production in parallel with a slag that could be further valorized in the cement industry. The mineralogical and chemical analysis of the metallic and slag phase agreed with the thermodynamic calculations. The results obtained by this study can lead to the development of a new process for the complete valorization of BR, paving the way for scaling up aluminothermic processes for producing ferroalloys from all iron-rich residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past few years, the international space industry has focused extensively on advancing technologies to enable prolonged human space exploration missions. The primary limiting factor for these endeavors is the spacecraft's capacity to transport and store essential supplies from Earth to support human life and mission equipment throughout the mission's duration. In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) is the preferred solution for this challenge. Previous lunar missions have identified the presence of oxygen within the lunar regolith, which is an important resource for human space exploration missions. Oxygen is present in many different minerals within the lunar regolith out of which, ilmenite provides the highest yield of oxygen per unit mass using hydrogen reduction. However, the distribution of ilmenite is neither high nor uniform throughout the lunar surface and therefore, needs beneficiation, which is an important intermediate step for ilmenite-based oxygen production. A regolith beneficiation testbed was developed at DLR Bremen which is a TRL 4 level representation of the technology. The testbed has multiple process parameters that can be adjusted to produce the desired feedstock. This work focuses on the optimization of this testbed to produce a feedstock with higher ilmenite content than the input regolith. The testbed comprises three beneficiation techniques, viz. gravitational, magnetic and electrostatic beneficiation that work sequentially to produce the desired feedstock. The optimized parameter configuration achieved up to three-fold increase in the ilmenite grade relative to the input with about 32 wt% of the total ilmenite being recovered in the enriched output. These experiments have highlighted other underlying factors that influenced the experimental research such as the design of testbed components, system residuals and limited availability for Off-the-shelf components. The observations made from these experiments have also provided insights into the further development of the technology. The work has thus produced evidence for the effectiveness of the beneficiation testbed in producing an enriched feedstock while outlining avenues for future improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shock lithification of regolith breccias is a ubiquitous process on the surfaces of airless planetary bodies and may induce thermal effects, including melting on regolith breccia minerals. However, potential thermal effects on lithic and mineral clasts in regolith breccias have seldom been quantitatively constrained. Here, we report two types of micro-textures of armalcolite [(Mg,Fe2+)Ti2O5] in an Mg-suite lithic clast from lunar regolith breccia meteorite Northwest Africa 8182. One type of armalcolite contains oriented fine-grained ilmenite grains; the other occurs as an aggregate of ilmenite, rutile, spinel, and loveringite. We propose that the two types of micro-textures formed through subsolidus breakdown of armalcolite by different processes. The formation of ilmenite inclusions in armalcolite is related to slow cooling after the solidification of its source rock, whereas the ilmenite-rutile-spinel-loveringite aggregates probably formed during the shock lithification event of NWA 8182. The results indicate that the temperature at the margin of lithic clasts could be raised up to at least 600 °C during strong shock lithification of lunar regolith and has profound thermal effects on the mineralogical and isotopic behaviors of lithic and mineral fragments in lunar regolith breccias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current research was aimed at developing a variable surface reactivity kinetics model for leaching of activated particles. The geometrical surface of particles considered constant in a shrinking core model (SCM) was replaced by reactive surface. As a result, SCM was modified to a variable surface reactivity-shrinking core model, in good agreement with experimental measurements of the leaching of ilmenite-activated particles. Despite the slight increase in specific surface area with activation time, the significant increase in reactive surface indicated that the structural distortion had a more substantial effect on the leaching kinetics. The effect of crystal structure disordering on the leaching kinetics of activated ilmenite particles was assessed. The results revealed that leaching efficiency increases with an increase in lattice strain and amorphization degree and with a decrease in crystal size. For prolonged milling time, the crystal size effect on leaching efficiency was negligible, whereas lattice strain and amorphization degree became more influential on leaching kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical looping combustion (CLC) offers innovative carbon capture via oxygen carrier (OC) circulation between separate reactors. Circulating fluidized beds facilitate OC transport between fuel and air reactors for reduction and oxidation. By avoiding direct contact between fuel and air, minimal energy is required for CO2 separation. Disadvantages resulting from the conventional circulating fluidized bed system are the additional energy necessary for OC transportation and the challenge to operate at elevated pressure. A novel approach to CLC is proposed by considering a packed bed system with stationary OC particles undergoing periodic reduction and oxidation stages by shifting feed gas streams. The major design benefit lies in the prospect of process operation at high pressure. Finding optimal operating conditions is a mandatory step prior to implementing the process at industrial level. In this work, COMSOL Multiphysics was used for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling in order to simulate the syngas-based CLC process with ilmenite OC in a packed bed reactor configuration. Mass, momentum and heat transfer mechanisms were accounted for to describe the combustion, purge and regeneration stages within a bed of randomly packed spherical OC particles at both macro- and micro-scale dimensions. The scope of the particle-resolved CFD multiscale model with realistic bed morphology was the in-depth analysis of the intraparticle phenomena occurring during the redox reactions, with emphasis on heat transport. Model results agree with published literature and provide additional understanding regarding the process in order to contribute towards the design of a flexible and energy efficient power plant concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A depressant is essential to the effective flotation-based separation of ilmenite and forsterite, based on their comparable physicochemical characteristics. In this work, dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was initially introduced as a depressant, to aid in the separation of ilmenite and forsterite. Comparing the DSS to conventional natural starch, the results indicate that the forsterite exerts a greater depression over the ilmenite. The difference in recovery of ilmenite and forsterite was 75.44% at 10 mg/L of DSS dosage. The DSS was chemisorbed strongly onto the forsterite surface via Mg active sites, whereas its interaction with the ilmenite surface via physisorption was weak, based on the XPS and molecular-dynamics-simulation analyses. The results of the AFM and QCM-D investigations showed that the DSS adsorption layer on the forsterite surface was larger than those on the ilmenite surface. Consequently, DSS may function as a depressant, to effectively separate forsterite from ilmenite ore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a complete beneficiation technical route combining physical and chemical methods, namely a roasting-flotation-leaching scheme, is proposed to produce a qualified grade Ti-concentrate from altered Vanadium titanomagnetite (VTM) ore. Based on the character of the ore sample, it is recommended to recover the Ti-bearing minerals, ilmenite and anatase, as composite mineral. Pretreatment experiments indicate that the oxidation roasting (800 °C) and acid washing methods increase the flotation indexes significantly. Flotation condition tests show that the optimal conditions are a grinding fineness of −0.045 mm 83%, sulfuric acid dosage of 2000 g/t, water glass dosage of 1500 g/t, oxalic acid dosage of 200 g/t, and EM328 dosage of 1500 g/t. An open flotation circuit test obtains a flotation concentrate with a TiO2 grade and recovery of 38.30% and 25.99%, respectively. A leaching exploration test shows that the TiO2 grade of the flotation concentrate can be improved to 53.90%. XRD analyses reveal that the ilmenite in the VTM ore is converted into anatase and rutile during the roasting process at 600–800 °C, but pseudobrookite begins to form at 900 °C. Compared to the flotation concentrate, it is confirmed that the content of Ti-bearing minerals is increased significantly in the leaching residue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A laboratory-scale setup has been developed for the electrodialysis (ED) of solutions containing titanium which were prepared from the leaching of ilmenite concentrate in concentrated sulfuric acid. The final product was high-purity TiO2 pigment. The operating parameters, including initial feed concentration (17–28 g/L−1 of titanium and 9–10.2 g/L−1 of iron), input voltage (30–60 V), and flow rate (70–220 mL/min−1) were evaluated during the ED process. Increasing the input voltage raised the recovery efficiency up to 91% with a feed concentration of 17 g/L−1 of titanium and a flow rate of 70 mL min−1. However, increasing the feed concentration enhanced the recovery efficiency up to 96%. The maximum current efficiency achieved was 20.37% at 60 Vs and feed concentrations of 17 g/L−1 of titanium and 9 g/L−1 of iron. The values of the cation transfer number for separating Fe2+ from solutions containing titanium are in the range of 0.72–0.81. The TiO2 pigment was produced by hydrolysis and calcination of the outlet solution. The produced pigments were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the produced TiO2 pigments are composed of the anatase phase as a major component with an average purity of 97%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research focuses on characterizing river basin ilmenite and upgrading it to synthetic rutile through direct hydrochloric acid leaching. The ilmenite was fractionated from heavy mineral concentrates by physical separation, which were collected from the transboundary Brahmaputra River basin sandbars in Bangladesh. The ilmenite and prepared titanium products were characterized by wavelength dispersive x-ray fluorescence, grain size analysis, x-ray diffraction, optical and scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The river basin ilmenite concentrate is low grade and contains 27.02% TiO2 and 60.62% Fe2O3t, composed of ilmenite, hemo-ilmenite, ilmeno-hematite, and some locked grains of gangue minerals. The titanium product prepared from river basin ilmenite by direct hydrometallurgical processing showed 95.61% TiO2, 3.81% Fe2O3t, and 0.58% other oxides, and corresponds to a complete rutile phase. This synthetic rutile also exhibited a porous structure, crushed crystallites, and a particle size of < 0.5 µm. Except for the Fe2O3t content, which might be reduced by chlorination, all the attributes of the synthetic rutile meet the requirements for industrial use. This could make river basin ilmenite a viable alternative to conventional ilmenite feedstock from beach placers or massive crystalline ores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis and characterization of Fe2O3 from Iron Sand of the coastal sea of Cidaun Beach - South Cianjur using the coprecipitation method has been carried out. The purpose of this research was to identify the crystal structure, magnetic mineral content, and magnetic properties of iron sands. The characterizations used in this research are X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-Ray (SEM-EDX) and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM). Based on the XRD results, it shows that the iron sand sample produces multi-phases, namely hematite (𝛼-Fe2O3), maghemite (𝛾-Fe2O3) and ilmenite (FeTiO3). SEM-EDX results indicate that the iron sand samples have an average particle size of 12.396 𝜇m. VSM results indicate that the iron sand sample is soft magnetic (ferrimagnetic) with saturation, remanence and coercivity values of 47 emu/g, 1.53 emu/g and 102.97 Oe, respectively.

This is an essay in the field of mineral processing engineering. This study conducted a test study on the recovery of Ilmenite from an Ultrafine Fine Particle Material in Panxi, determined the overall process flow of strong magnetic preconcentration flotation, obtained the optimized beneficiation and recovery process flow and condition parameters, and applied the flotation reagents EM-A and EM326 suitable for the recovery of this type of ultrafine ilmenite. Results show that through the titanium separation process of strong magnetic preconcentration flotation desulfurization + flotation desliming + one roughing and one sweeping five times of cleaning middlings in the beneficiation and return, the titanium concentrate product TiO2 grade of 45.56% and the recovery rate of 47.10% can finally be obtained, which provides a technical reference for the recycling of titanium ilmenite in this kind of ultrafine materials.

This is an essay in the field of process mineralogy. In order to find out the properties of low-grade titanium ore with scandium, chemical analysis, electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, automatic mineral analyzer and optical microscope are used to analyze the material composition and mineral embedding characteristics of the ore. From the perspective of process mineralogy, the occurrence state of titanium, iron, and scandium has been studied in detail. The results show that the scandium in the ore mainly occurs in calcium-magnesium silicate, with a distribution rate of 94.93%. An excellent scandium recovery index can be obtained by beneficiating and smelting this silicate mineral. The research results have important guiding significance for the selection and smelting of scandium associated with titanium ore and the next development and utilization of the deposit. It also has important implications for the study of the occurrence of scandium in similar scandium-bearing titanium deposits.

This work studies the physical and mechanical composition of soils of reclaimed territories after ilmenite extraction in Zhytomyr Polissya. Namely, the granulometric composition and soil moisture of the reclaimed territories of the Irshansky Mining and Processing Plant were determined. The types of soil by their fractional composition are determined. The condition of soils in the areas affected by the mining industry and reclaimed has been studied at different times. The dependence between the relief of the experimental plots and the soil moisture and the content of fine fraction in the soil is determined. The results of the study showed that the soils are mostly sandy, sandy loam and loamy. These soils are characterized by low moisture retention properties and low nutrient content. The study found that soils in areas affected by open pit mining are undergoing significant changes, which negatively affects their forest vegetation potential, to restore which requires quality technical and biological reclamation.

This article discusses the main technologies for processing titanium-containing raw materials, the advantages, and disadvantages of various technological solutions. The analysis of the literature revealed that the traditional methods for the production of titanium products are mainly focused on the use of ilmenite concentrates. In connection with the depletion of ilmenite deposits, in the near future, there will inevitably be a need for a switch to the use of complex ores – titanomagnetite. Obtaining titanium dioxide (TiO2) from titanomagnetite raw materials with a high content of impurity components requires an individual approach for each specific deposit. The possibility of further improving the development of a technological process for low-temperature (1000–1200 °C) processing of titanomagnetite concentrates via the production of pure TiO2 is proposed.

In this work, nanoparticles of ilmenite powder (47 nm) were prepared via ball-milling of natural ilmenite ore to enhance the specific surface area of particles. The photocatalytic activity of magnetically separable ilmenite nanoparticles was investigated in the degradation of methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB). The Band gap of the ilmenite nanoparticles was calculated 3.05 eV. The photodegradation results show that ilmenite nanoparticles completely destruct MO and MB in 40 and 50 min under visible irradiation. In order to choose of optimum values of factors, the leaching process was optimized by applying a “Rotatable Central Composite Design” (CCD) technique. For preparing of required precursor, the grind ilmenite was crushed into small particles by ball milling method. In addition, in order to purifying the titanium slag, reduction process was carried out. Effective Factors on sulfuric acid process as follows leaching time, temperature, acid concentration and solid/liquid (S/L) ratio, were studied.