Preparation, decomposition and characterizations of Bangka - Indonesia Ilmenite (FeTiO3) derived by hydrothermal method using concentrated NaOH solution

Ilmenite is an economically important and interesting mineral. It is found as a by-product of tin mining in Bangka Indonesia. This mineral has can be used as the source of making titanium metal, titanium dioxide (TiO ₂) pigment and material for photo catalysts. However, the synthesis of TiO ₂ from ilmenite using both sulfate and chloride pr °Cesses still has faced a major problem to obtain white pigment of high purity and lower operation cost. This is mainly due to Fe ₂O ₃ impurity in TiO ₂ pigment which cannot be easily decomposed. Therefore, this study is aimed at investigating the possibility of using Bangka ilmenite mineral to obtain TiO ₂ pigments and phot °Catalysts. For this purpose, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was used as decomposition solution via hydrothermal pr °Cess in a teflon-lined aut °Clave equipment. The characterization results indicated that Bangka ilmenite contains a significant TiO ₂ level of more than 30 %, although there still remains some other impurities. Upon decomposition of dissolution using NaOH, was decrease in impurity elements down to 60 %. The decomposition pr °Cess of ilmenite was optimum at NaOH concentration of 10 M where the ilmenite decomposes to form an intermediate phase of sodium titanate with the morphological shape of fine threads