Study of various roasting-temperature and holding-time of ilmenite iron sand mixed with Na2CO3 to acquire higher titanium concentration.

Titanium have many applications in our life, including pigment industry, electronic and welding equipment. These industries required titanium resources a lot. In Indonesia, titanium resources were found in the form of ilmenite and titanomagnetite. In 2008, extraction of chrome can be achieved with temperature of 600°C-800°C controlled by diffusion between layer, using alkali roasting. Another research states, alkali roasting temperature of 850°C-900°C for 1 hour are the optimum parameter for achieving sodium titanate, sodium ferrite, Na-Fe-Ti-O and Na-Mg-Ti-O phases. Oxidation temperature below 700°C has reaction mechanism of three dimensional diffusion and above 1,000°C the reaction mechanism is random nucleation and subsequent growth. In this research, the ilmenite iron sand are roasted with Na2CO3 with various temperature and holding time. XRD and ICP-OES characterization performed before magnetic separation, the results are, high concentration of titanium in temperature 500°C with holding time 90 minute, 600°C with 60 minute and 700°C with 60 minute. To acquire higher concentration of titanium, magnetic separation performed. From the results of XRD we can see temperature of 600°C and 700°C can increase intensity of magnetite and ilmenite. And from the results of ICP-OES, high titanium concentration acquired at temperature 500°C for 90 minutes, 600°C for 90 minutes, and 700°C for 30 minutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]