Recovery of Titanium from Blast Furnace Slag

Titanium is one of the most valuable elements found in blast furnace slag, with a concentration of approximate 2.7%. Because of the low level of titanium in slag, the best method of extraction is hydrometallurgy. In this study, parameters such as slag particle size, temperature, concentration of acid, solid-to-liquid ratio, and ultrasonic wave time were used to determine the recovery of titanium. Parameters such as time and stirring speed were kept constant. To examine the results, a two-level fractional factorial experimental design was used. Particle sizes in the ranges of 2.35-3.36 and <0.85 mm, temperatures of 25-65 degrees C, acid concentrations of 1-2 M, solid-to-liquid ratios of 1:10-1:30 g/L, and ultrasonic wave times of 0-20 min were studied. A total of 20 tests were performed, and using statistical analysis and ANOVA, the optimum conditions were identified, and a confirmation test was also performed. A recovery of titanium of over 98% was determined, and the predicted and actual results were determined to be almost identical.