摘要 |
Disclosed herein are processes for selectively solubilizing iron from a substrate material containing both titanium and iron, such as ilmenite ore. In one embodiment, the process comprises contacting a substrate material comprising iron and titanium with an aqueous solution of an extractant selected from the group consisting of malonic acid, a malonic acid salt, citric acid, a citric acid salt, and mixtures thereof, at a temperature between about 25 °C and about 160 °C for a time sufficient to form an aqueous leachate comprising iron and titanium, and solids comprising titanium; wherein the leachate has a titanium content of 25 weight percent or less, based on the sum of the iron and the titanium contents of the leachate on a weight basis. |