Evaluation of Titania-Rich Slag Produced from Titaniferous Magnetite Under Fluxless Smelting Conditions

Abstract

AbstractTitanium-bearing magnetite ore is generically defined as magnetite with > 1% titanium dioxide (TiO2) and is usually vanadium-bearing. The iron and titanium occur as a mixture of magnetite (Fe3O4) and ilmenite (FeTiO3) with vanadium oxide usually occurring within the solid solution of the titanium-bearing magnetite phase. These ores are currently widely processed in blast furnaces via modified ironmaking processes. Typically, vanadium is recovered as a by-product from the ironmaking process, while the diluted titania slag is stockpiled. Fluxless smelting in a direct-current open-arc furnace is proposed as an opportunity to improve iron and vanadium recovery and potentially unlock the titanium as a slag product. Slags produced from a pilot study are compared to industrial slags produced from ilmenite. The findings from the pilot test show that slag produced under fluxless smelting conditions in an open-arc electric furnace is remarkably similar to industrial ilmenite slags. The test conditions were varied to evaluate the slag and metal composition, and furnace operation, under increasing reducing conditions. The study showed that the slag and metal product was remarkably similar to industrial slag produced from ilmenite.