Formation and Mechanism of Magnesium Titanate in the Process of Ilmenite Reduction

In this study, magnesium titanate was prepared through the high-temperature reaction of ilmenite and MgO in a reducing atmosphere, and its formation process and mechanism under different conditions were investigated. The results showed that a reducing atmosphere is necessary to prepare magnesium titanate. Although Mg could replace Fe and form magnesium titanate without reductant, the generated magnesium titanate contained large amounts of iron. While a reducing atmosphere promoted the formation of magnesium titanate and accelerated the reaction rate, this is because iron oxide in the reaction system is reduced to metal Fe under a reducing atmosphere. The effect of iron reduction improved, the content of iron in the magnesium titanate decreased with increasing temperature, and pure particles of magnesium titanate were generated at 1450 degrees C. Magnesium titanate was transformed along MgTi2O5 -> MgTiO3 -> Mg2TiO4 path with increasing MgO dosage. The magnesium titanate product, contains above 90% Mg2TiO4, was obtained by grinding and magnetic separation as non-magnetic product.