The separation and analysis of titanium and iron in the mineral ilmenite

Abstract

Since the location of extensive *ilmenite-bearing beach sands in Australia, and now in Tanzania, the separation and analysis of the mineral has become more important than ever. This is particularly because ilmenite has now become the principal source of rutile, an important product in the manufacture of pigments and ceramic materials. Ion exchange separation using a mixture of HCI and HF is described in the literature. The method has serious limitations especially when the use of glassware cannot be avoided. The author has successfully applied exclusively HCI solution for the anion exchange separation. The mineral was first brought in solution by fusion with KHSO₄. The excess sulphate was removed in a cation exchange step. In the anion exchange stage carried out in 8.4 – 8.6 N HCl, the separation of iron from Ti was found to be quantitative.