Dissolution of ilemite in sulphuric acid under reducing conditions with controlled abrasion

The kinetics of dissolution of ilmenite, containing haematite, in aqueous solutions of sulphuric acid have been studied. Iron was found to leach from the mineral complex at a faster rate than titanium. The rates of solution of both iron and titanium increased, up to certain limiting values, upon abrading the mineral during leaching and were found to be related to the hydrogen ion activity of the leaching solution by a first order dependency. The results have been interpreted in terms of preferential and possibly diffusion-controlled leaching of the haematite with ilmenite being removed both by slow leaching and tearing out from the specimen surface.Applied Science, Faculty ofMaterials Engineering, Department ofGraduat