The processing of beach sand from Sri Lanka for the recovery of titanium using magnetic separation

Abstract

An investigation has been carried out to study the mineralogical and chemical characteristics of beach sand deposits from Sri Lanka and application and optimisation of different magnetic separators (induced roll magnetic separator and disc magnetic separator) to improve the recovery of titanium from the deposit. Commercial grade titanium concentrates could be achieved employing both induced roll and disc magnetic separators. However, the titanium recovery increased greatly in the magnetic fraction with a titanium content of commercial grade (up to 63.9% TiO2) when paramagnetic titanium-bearing minerals were separated from beach sand using the disc magnetic separator. The results of the mineralogical and chemical analysis tests for the beach sand deposit indicated that 71% of beach sand was smaller than 355 μm in particle size and more than 99% of titanium content of the deposit was contained in this fraction.