Preparation of Fe₂O₃-TiO₂ composite from Sukabumi iron sand through magnetic separation, pyrometallurgy, and hydrometallurgy

Preparation of Fe₂O₃/TiO₂ composite from Sukabumi iron sand by magnetic separation, roasting, leaching and precipitation treatment has been carried out. Magnetic separation can separate magnetic particles and non-magnetic particles of iron sand content, while the non-magnetic particles (wustite (FeO), hematite (α-Fe₂O₃), maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃) and magnetite (Fe₃O₄)) was washing with oxalic acid 1 M. The result product then was roasted at 800 °C treated by sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) addition of 1:1; 2:1 and 1:2 (w/w) of iron sand to Na2CO3 weight ratio, respectively. The X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis result shown that Sukabumi iron sand have hematite (Fe₂O₃) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) content about 72.17% dan 14.42%. XRD analysis of roasted iron sand shown the rutile (TiO₂), Hematite (Fe₂O₃), NaFeO2, FeO, and Na2TiO3. Leaching of roasted iron sand using sulphuric acid (H2SO4) have influenced by concentrations of the H2SO4 solution. The optimum iron sand dissolution occurred in H2SO4 9 M, which condensation product of the leachant have a weight ratio of Fe:Ti = 1:1 (w/w). Meanwhile, the settling back-filtrate result of second condensation was obtained a ratio of Fe₂O₃: TiO₂ of 3: 1 (w/w). (paper)