Investigation of Vanadium Titanomagnetite Concentrate Activated Reduction

Test methods including chemical analysis, X-ray-phase, and thermogravimetric analyses together with thermodynamic calculation are adopted to reveal the transition mechanism for Fe, V and Ti in an activated reduction process. Ti in vanadium titanomagnetite concentrate is converted into Na₂TiO₃ at below 1150°С and then forms CaTiO₃ by reduction as temperature increases to about 1200°С. The activated form of V is found to be NaVO₃ , which is stable below 1150°С, and reduced in iron metal. The optimum temperature range for Fe reduction is higher than 1100°С, which however should be maintained below 1000°С taking account of Na loss during reduction. Consequently, a two-step regime consisting of preliminary reduction at below 1000°С and final reduction in the range of 1100°С to 1150°С is the optimum for activated reduction of vanadium titanomagnetite concentrate. Under this regime a reduced sample retains a briquette shape, and iron metal powder acquired by magnetic separation contains little slag.