The complex processing of titanomagnetites with a high content of titanium dioxide

Titanomagnetites are a complex raw material with a high content of valuable components: iron (35–65 %), vanadium (0.5–1.5 %) and titanium (2–14 %). Today, titanium-magnetite concentrates are processed in two ways: blast furnace (Russia, China) and using electric smelting (South Africa). The blast-furnace method is applicable only for low-titanium titanomagnetites. In the case of using titanomagnetite concentrates with a titanium dioxide content of more than 4 %, the method of electric smelting with preliminary reduction is applicable. Both technologies aim to recover the two components (iron and vanadium), while titanium is not recovered. In this regard, the development of a complex technology for processing titanomagnetite concentrate to obtain iron in granular form, vanadium pentoxide and titanium, is urgent.