Recovery of fine ilmenite particles from beach sand by liquid-liquid extraction

As part of fundamental studies on the recovery of fine material particles by liquid-liquid extraction, the concentration of fine ilmenite particles at the isooctane water interface has been investigated using surfactants under different pH. Sodium oleate, sodium laurylbenzenesulfonate and stearylamine acetate as surfactants were used to control the wettability and stabilize the emulsion system. It was found that one hundred percent recovery of the ilmenite was obtained under the optimum pH and surfactant addition regardless of the surfactant used. The distribution of neutral oleate and amine molecules between the aqueous and organic phases was examined by a spectrophotometric method. A good correlation was observed between ilmenite recovery and the concentration distribution of surfactant species.