The optimum conditions of Titanium Recovery process from the Iraqi Bauxite Ore

Abstract

The present work is especially concerned with the Iraqi bauxite ore that includes 4.1% of titanium element (Ti). The goal of this study is to investigate the effect of various parameters (concentration of acid, ratio of solid: liquid, stirring speed, contact time, and temperature) in order to determine the best conditions for the leaching and extraction of titanium element. All tests of leaching were conducted with different acids (HNO3, H2SO4, and H3PO4) with a ratio of solid: liquid from (1: 100) to (1: 8), the temperature of reaction from (25°C) to (50°C), period of time from (30 min) to (120 min), and speed of stirring from (400 rpm) to (1200 rpm). The best conditions were determined at (1: 100) solid: liquid ratio, (50°C) temperature, (4 M) HNO3 concentration, and (900 rpm) stirring speed. While, the titanium extraction was from leached solution by (trioctylphosphine oxide) (TOPO), tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP), and di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) dissolved in kerosene) with an organic/aqueous ratio of (1/1, 1/2, 1/3, 2/1, and 3/1); temperature of reaction and period of time are correspondingly from (25°C) to (55°C) and from (8 min) to (15 min), and speed of stirring (400 rpm). The best conditions were obtained when using (55°C) temperature, (50%) TOPO concentration, (15 min) contact time, (400 rpm) speed of stirring and (1/3) O/A ratio.