Removal of iron from ilmenite by KOH leaching-oxalate leaching method

Oxalic acid was used for the removal of iron from the intermediates of ilmenite leached by KOH liquor. Various parameters, such as pH, temperature, initial oxalate concentration, and illumination were investigated. Meanwhile, it was found that orthorhombic crystal Ti2O2（OH）2（C2O4）-H2O formed as the leaching proceeded. Scanning electronic microscope （SEM） images implied that the formation of Ti2O2（OH）2（C2O4）.H2O with good crystallinity proceeded through three stages. Calcining Ti2O2（OH）2（C2O4）·H2O, anatase （350℃） or mtile （550℃） type TiO2 was obtained, respectively. Element analysis found that the calcined product contained 94.9% TiO2 and 2.5% iron oxide, but only about 1600 ppm dissolvable iron oxide was left, which indicates that oxalic acid was comparatively effective on iron oxide removal from the intermediates. Finally, an improved route was proposed for the upgrading of ilmenite into mtile.