Economic analysis of the processing of various titanium-containing raw materials to obtain titanium, vanadium, and niobium
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51301/ejsu.2025.i1.01Keywords:
slag, rutile, costs, processing, chlorination, wasteAbstract
This work presents an economic analysis of processing various titanium-containing raw materials-titanium slag and synthetic rutile-through chlorination in a molten salt medium in the presence of carbon. The processing of titanium-containing raw materials is carried out using a chlorination technology in molten alkali metal salts (MgCl₂, NaCl, KCl) with high-concentration gaseous chlorine in the presence of a carbon-containing reducing agent. Anthracite is used as the reducing agent, while waste sludge from magnesium electrolysis is used as the molten medium. The processing takes place in cylindrical chlorination furnaces lined with fireclay bricks at temperatures of 720-800°C. The chlorination products are directed to a condensation system. The work provides a description of the Satpayev ilmenite deposit in East Kazakhstan and presents the chemical composition of Satpayev ilmenite concentrate, titanium slag, and synthetic rutile obtained through various processes. A correlation is established between the vanadium, niobium, and tantalum content in ilmenite concentrates and their prevalence in the Earth's crust. Based on this correlation, the order of transition metals in Group V of the periodic table is determined according to their decreasing concentration in the concentrates. Technological challenges associated with processing titanium-containing raw materials with elevated levels of certain components are described, along with some methods for producing synthetic rutile. A cost comparison is provided for the production of titanium slag and synthetic rutile. Material balance calculations for the chlorination process of titanium slag and synthetic rutile from different production methods are performed to assess raw material costs and waste disposal expenses. The study concludes that producing synthetic rutile from Satpayev ilmenite concentrate is economically feasible.
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