MINERAL PROCESSING: Improvements to CTL process boost TiO2 recovery to 99%

ONTARIO – Argex Mining of Montreal says it has made a breakthrough in the iron recovery circuit at its CTL (named for Argex subsidiary Canadian Titanium Ltd.) pilot plant in Mississauga. Continued process improvements on solvent extraction for the iron circuit have increased the iron concentration from 68 g/L to 120 g/L, significantly reducing the energy consumption and also improving the recovery of TiO₂ by 3%.

These improvements will ultimately find their way into a full scale industrial production facility, said the company.

The CTL process is a proprietary mineral extraction process that allows for the production pigment grade, 99.8% TiO₂ product. The process is unique because of its ability to produce high purity titanium oxide, iron and vanadium oxide through a single process directly from the ore material, noted Argex. The process is also said to be environmentally friendly because of its energy efficiency, low emissions and closed loop design.

Argex has been testing ore from its the La Blache titanium-vanadium deposit near Baie Comeau, QC. Learn more at Argex.ca.