Abstract
The processing of titanium-zirconium concentrates with high chromium content presents a significant challenge due to the inhibitory effect of chromium on industrial applications. This study investigates the composition of titanium-containing concentrate from the Obukhovskoye deposit using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and thermogravimetric analysis. The findings indicate that chromium is uniformly distributed in both magnetic and non-magnetic fractions, complicating its selective removal by conventional methods. To address this issue, the concentrate was sintered with soda under varying temperature and component ratio conditions. The optimal parameters were determined as a temperature of 1000 degrees Celsius, a concentrate-to-soda ratio of 1:3, and a soaking time of 30 minutes, resulting in a reduction of chromium content to 0.86%. Subsequent leaching of the sintered material achieved a chromium extraction efficiency of 68.5 percent. Additionally, reduction smelting of the sinter leach cake with anthracite facilitated the transfer of residual chromium into the magnetic fraction. The final non-magnetic fraction contained 54.8% Ti, 3.0% Fe, and 0.129% Cr, aligning with the quality standards for medium-grade ilmenite concentrates. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in significantly reducing chromium content in rutile-ilmenite concentrates, enhancing their industrial applicability and supporting the comprehensive development of titanium-zirconium deposits in Kazakhstan.