Study of various roasting-temperature and holding-time of ilmenite iron sand mixed with Na₂CO₃to acquire higher titanium concentration

Titanium have many applications in our life, including pigment industry, electronic and welding equipment. These industries required titanium resources a lot. In Indonesia, titanium resources were found in the form of ilmenite and titanomagnetite. In 2008, extraction of chrome can be achieved with temperature of 600°C-800°C controlled by diffusion between layer, using alkali roasting. Another research states, alkali roasting temperature of 850°C-900°C for 1 hour are the optimum parameter for achieving sodium titanate, sodium ferrite, Na-Fe-Ti-O and Na-Mg-Ti-O phases. Oxidation temperature below 700°C has reaction mechanism of three dimensional diffusion and above 1,000°C the reaction mechanism is random nucleation and subsequent growth. In this research, the ilmenite iron sand are roasted with Na2CO3 with various temperature and holding time. XRD and ICP-OES characterization performed before magnetic separation, the results are, high concentration of titanium in temperature 500°C with holding time 90 minute, 600°C with 60 minute and 700°C with 60 minute. To acquire higher concentration of titanium, magnetic separation performed. From the results of XRD we can see temperature of 600°C and 700°C can increase intensity of magnetite and ilmenite. And from the results of ICP-OES, high titanium concentration acquired at temperature 500°C for 90 minutes, 600°C for 90 minutes, and 700°C for 30 minutes.