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Production of rutile nano-rods from Egyptian ilmenite mineral via a two-step physicochemical processes: a comparison study between low-grade and high-grade ilmenite concentrate

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Abstract

The synthesis of pure titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanomaterials from naturally occurring ilmenite (FeTiO3), which is present in black sands, is highly desirable due to its numerous industrial and technological applications. In this study, nanostructured rutile nanorods were synthesized using Egyptian ilmenite concentrate through a simple mechanical/chemical route, comprising two stages: the first stage involved the reduction of ilmenite by activated carbon as a reducing agent during milling, while the second stage involved the decomposition of FeTiO3/carbon and the selective dissolution for  iron and silica using a mixture of HCl/H2O2 and NH4F/HF, respectively. The results indicated that the optimal conditions for hydrothermal leaching of the milled ilmenite/carbon are achieved at a solid/liquid ratio of 167 g/L, 4 h at 170 °C. The amorphous titanium dioxide could be converted to ~ 95% pure rutile-phase nanorods by annealing at 700 °C followed by additional leaching processes to simply remove silica from the synthesized rutile.

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All relevant data generated and analysed during this study, which include experimental, spectroscopic, crystallographic data, are included in this article and its supplementary information. Copies of the data can be obtained free of charge.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Nasr City, Egypt

    Ahmed Attia & Mahmoud M. Hassaan

  2. Nuclear Materials Authority, El Maadi, Cairo, 11381, Egypt

    Ahmed Attia, Emad A. Elshehy, Hesham A. El Nahas & Hamed I. Mira

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  1. Ahmed Attia
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  2. Emad A. Elshehy
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  3. Hesham A. El Nahas
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  4. Hamed I. Mira
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  5. Mahmoud M. Hassaan
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Correspondence to Emad A. Elshehy.

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Attia, A., Elshehy, E., El Nahas, H. et al. Production of rutile nano-rods from Egyptian ilmenite mineral via a two-step physicochemical processes: a comparison study between low-grade and high-grade ilmenite concentrate. Braz. J. Chem. Eng. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43153-024-00467-7

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