Geological setting and mineral composition of (apatite)-nepheline-titanite ore from the Khibiny massif enable selective mining of titanite ore, and its processing with sulfuric-acid method, without preliminary concentration in flotation cells. In this process flow diagram, titanite losses are reduced by an order of magnitude in comparison with a conventional flotation technology. Further, dissolution of titanite in concentrated sulfuric acid produces titanyl sulfate, which, in turn, is a precursor for titanosilicate synthesis. In particular, synthetic analogues of the ivanyukite group minerals, SIV, was synthesized with hydrothermal method from the composition based on titanyl-sulfate, and assayed as a selective cation-exchanger for Cs and Sr.
The waste of apatite-nepheline ore processing was chosen as the material of study for the present investigation. The chemical and phase compositions have been analyzed and the route of the new technology has been developed. Treatment of the waste with diluted hydrochloric acid enables to separate apatite, nepheline, titano-magnetite minerals from titanite (CaSiTiO5). The obtained titanite concentrate contains 30–32% of titanium dioxide. Interaction of titanite with hydrochloric acid under heating and stirring conditions results in calcium leaching. The titanite decomposition is accompanied by titanium and silica oxides precipitation. The resulting solid has been used as a precursor for the synthesis of functional materials. Mechanochemical activation of the precursor provides the structural and morphological disorder of the initial particles. Thermodynamic stability of activated particles is achieved by chemisorption or roasting.
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