Author(s): Hugo Jhonathan Marín García, Ramiro Escudero García and Ricardo Morales Estrella

Abstract: Titanium and vanadium metals are used in the manufacture of micro alloyed steels, medical instruments, automobile parts, among others. The beaches of Mexico along the Pacific Ocean have sands called "titaniferous", rich in mineral species of iron, vanadium and titanium, mainly.This work proposes the dissolution of Fe, Ti and V, contained in the beach sand, after its oxidation and carbothermal reduction, for the subsequent recovery of the metals; for example, by cementation.The chemical characterization of the beach sand, by means of atomic absorption spectroscopy (EAA) and mass ICP (ICP-OES)), indicates that this mineral contains 65.85% (w/w) of Fe, in addition to 1.17 and 0.35% (w/w), titanium and vanadium, respectively. Analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicates the presence of the mineral phases: magnetite, iron-silicon oxide and iron-titanium oxide. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis shows a compact morphology with little irregularity. The mineral sample was pulverized to a D80 particle size of 86 µm for its subsequent treatment. The oxidation of the mineral was carried out with hot air, for the carbothermal reduction graphite was used as a reducing agent, so that in this way it was possible to dissolve Fe, Ti and V in an acid medium, for its subsequent recovery.After oxidation in the mineral sand, the α-hematite phase was identified. The result of the reduction was the obtaining of elemental iron and titanium carbide (khamrabaevite). Finally, the reduced ore was leached with an acid solution (3% HCl for 48 h), completely dissolving iron and vanadium, while titanium dissolved 76.92% of its original content.

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