Patent ID: 6306195
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: C21B,Y02P,Y02W,Y10S

Abstract:
An improved process for the preparation of high grade synthetic rutile from ilmenite with pig iron as a by-product, said process comprising, subjecting ilmenite to reduction with 30-100% coal (w/w) at a temperature in the range of 850-1250.degree. C. for a period of 2-6 hours thereby producing ash, cooling and removing unreacted coal to obtain a product having 80-95% metallisation; smelting the metallised ilmenite mixed with less than 10% carbon (w/w) in a transferred arc plasma using arc current in the range of 100-400 amps., arc voltage of 20-60 V under flow of inert gas at a range of 0-2 liters/minute for a fixed time in the range 1-5 minutes; separating the metal as pig iron and TiO.sub.2 as slag; grinding the slag followed by oxidation in a temperature range of 500-1000.degree. C. in the presence of an oxidizing gas for 25-30 minutes, followed by leaching the oxidised product with dilute HCl at temperatures below 90.degree. C. for a period of 1-6 hours followed by filtration, washing and drying to obtain synthetic rutile.