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Characterization of Ilmenite from Kerala Coastline, India:Implications in the Production of Synthetic Rutile
National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, formerly Regional Research Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Thiruvananthapuram – 695019, India
National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, formerly Regional Research Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Thiruvananthapuram – 695019, India
National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, formerly Regional Research Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Thiruvananthapuram – 695019, India
National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, formerly Regional Research Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Thiruvananthapuram – 695019, India
National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, formerly Regional Research Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Thiruvananthapuram – 695019, India
National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, formerly Regional Research Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Thiruvananthapuram – 695019, India
National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, formerly Regional Research Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Thiruvananthapuram – 695019, India
- 1 National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, formerly Regional Research Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Thiruvananthapuram – 695019, India
- 2 National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, formerly Regional Research Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Thiruvananthapuram – 695019, India
- 3 National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, formerly Regional Research Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Thiruvananthapuram – 695019, India
- 4 National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, formerly Regional Research Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Thiruvananthapuram – 695019, India
- 5 National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, formerly Regional Research Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Thiruvananthapuram – 695019, India
- 6 National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, formerly Regional Research Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Thiruvananthapuram – 695019, India
- 7 National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, formerly Regional Research Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Thiruvananthapuram – 695019, India
Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering·Volume 08 (2009)·Pages 427–438·Published 20 June 2009·DOI10.4236/jmmce.2009.86038
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Abstract
Surface samples have been collected from Kerala coast, Chavakad - Ponnani (CP- central sector), Neendakara – Kayamkulam (NK- southern sector) beach sectors for ilmenite characterization studies. The TiO 2 percentage in samples from NK deposit is greater than that in CP deposit. X-ray diffraction analysis of ilmenite shows characteristic peaks of ilmenite and some altered phases, such as pseudorutile, pseudobrookite, etc. Two ilmenite samples separated from CP and NK deposits were subjected to chemical beneficiation for production of synthetic rutile by a process developed and patented by NIIST. Investigations revealed that ilmenite samples with 32.95% and 56 % TiO 2 could be upgraded to synthetic rutile of 95% TiO 2 content. However, economic viability of upgrading lean ore to synthetic rutile is largely dependent on commercial utilization of large quantities of iron oxide produced as the by product.
KeywordsIlmenite characterizationsynthetic rutileXRDSEMKerala coast.
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