Estudo hidrometalúrgico de compostos de titânio proveniente do resíduo do processo Bayer

Abstract

Studies performed in the Bayer process residue, red mud, for recycling this material has been intensified by their physicochemical characteristics. The residue has several oxides, these stands out the iron oxide content above 30% by weight and titanium oxide at concentrations above 5% by weight. This work studies the possibility of extracting iron oxide, aiming at concentration of titanium compounds. The extraction was carried through process of calcination of red mud at 900°C followed by acid leaching with concentration of H2SO4 at 20% and 30% by volume at 60°C, 80°C and 90°C, with removal of an aliquot every 30 minutes. During the leaching process, there was intense extraction of iron compounds, resulting in an increased concentration of titanium at the red mud. This was found in all experiments, especially those which were performed at 90°C and H2SO4 at 30% v/v, where was a extraction of 95% iron and concentration of up to 14% titanium considering the global mass balance. From the data obtained, the red mud becomes an interesting material to be used as an alternative source of minerals titanium, which are found in nature with a percentage of around 8%.