Study of acid leaching of niobium from titanium production sludge

Abstract

This article contains the results of acid leaching of titanium production sludge for the extraction of niobium into the solution. The material composition of sludge deposits from titanium-magnesium production was studied by methods of chemical, X-ray and electron-probe analysis. Studies of the sludge phase composition of the collector sludge showed that niobium was bonded mainly with aluminum and titanium. Electron-probe analysis showed that niobium in the form of fine grains is concentrated around the titanium particles. Agitation leaching was performed by two stages within a wide range of changing process parameters. The optimal leaching parameters were 4 % hydrochloric acid (HCl), S:L = 1:10; t=25 °C, agitation time 2 hours at the first stage. Optimal conditions for the second leaching stage were 20 % HCl, S:L = 1:5, t=25 °C, agitation time of 2 hours.

Keywords

• sludge
• niobium
• hydrochloric acid
• leaching
• extraction