ACETIC ACID AND SODIUM ACETATE MIXTURE AS AN AERATION CATALYST IN THE REMOVAL OF METALLIC IRON IN REDUCED ILMENITE

Abstract

Acetic acid and sodium acetate mixture (AASAM) was used as an aeration catalyst in the removal of metallic iron in reduced ilmenite. The efficiency of the catalyst was then compared to the standard ammonium chloride catalyst used in industry. Obtained results show that faster rate of iron removal could be achieved with AASAM while the molar concentrations of both AASAM and ammonium chloride were 0.1M. The highest rate of iron removal was achieved at the mixture proportion of 0.025M CH3COONa and 0.075M CH3COOH, aeration parameters of 70 C, solid/liquid ratio of 1/7 and air flow rate of 4.0 lit/min. At those experimental conditions, the aeration time was shortened from 9 hours when NH4Cl was used to 6 hours when AASAM was used. In both cases, the obtained rutile contains approx. 82% TiO2 and less than 0.5% metallic iron. The results indicated that AASAM could be used as a replacement for the NH4Cl catalyst in the aeration of reduced ilmenite.