Generation of titania-rich slag and iron from ilmenite concentrate by carbothermic reduction and magnetic separation in the presence of Na2CO3

The carbothermic reduction of an ilmenite concentrate, followed by wet magnetic separation, was performed with varying additions of Na2CO3 to generate metallic iron and a titanium-rich slag. The size of the metallic iron particles correlated positively with increasing graphite addition up to a C/O (O bound to Fe) molar ratio of 1.4; further increases beyond this level decreased the particle size. The size of these metallic iron particles also …