Distribution of niobium during chlorine processing of various titanium-containing feedstocks

This article presents the results of a study on the distribution of niobium during the chlorination processing of various titanium-containing feedstocks, including titanium slag from JSC «UK TMP», titanium slag from the Norwegian company TiZir Titanium & Iron AS, and their mixtures in different ratios. The titanium slag samples were ground and treated by chlorination using concentrated gaseous chlorine in a molten salt medium composed of alkali metal chlorides (MgCl2, KCl, NaCl), with finely crushed anthracite as a carbon-based reducing agent. The process was conducted at temperatures from 700 to 820°C. The study focused on the distribution behavior of vanadium and niobium during the chlorination of blended titanium slags in proportions of 60/40, 50/50, and 30/70 (UK TMP/TiZir), as well as in 100% UK TMP slag. The results indicate that most of the niobium accumulates in the dump slag of the titanium chlorinator and in the slurry of the irrigated scrubber. It was also found that an increase in the initial niobium content in the feed leads to its higher concentrations in the sublimate of the dust chamber, in the melt of the salt bath dust-settling chamber, and in the scrubber slurry, while its share in the dump slag decreases.