Thermodynamic and Technological Studies of the Electric Smelting of Satpaevsk Ilmenite Concentrates

This work presents the results of thermodynamic and technological studies of the reducing electric smelting of low-quality and difficult-to-recover Satpaevsk ilmenite concentrates in the presence of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) as a flux. In the course of thermodynamic studies, according to literature data and using the HSC Chemistry 8 program, the state diagrams of the FeO-TiO2, FeO-Fe2O3-TiO2, Na2O-TiO2, Na2O-SiO2, Ti-C-O and Fe-C-O systems and the possibility of reactions in the temperature range of 500–1600 °C (without smelting of titanium, 1678 °C), taking into account phase transitions, were studied. The article also presents the results of technological studies of the above process. In general, the research results showed the possibility of using sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) as a flux in the charge of the electric smelting of low-quality Satpaevsk ilmenite concentrates. It has been established that the addition of 4.5–5% of Na2CO3 allows for reducing the temperature and the duration of electric smelting, the viscosity of the melt, and the complete separation of the smelting products (cast iron from slag).