An electrochemical investigation of the rusting reaction of ilmenite using cyclic voltammetry

In a new process for the production of synthetic rutile, aeration rusting is the major step where metallic iron is converted to iron oxide in the presence of catalysts such as NH4Cl and air. An electrochemical investigation to understand the anodic dissolution of reduced ilmenite (RI) has been carried out using a reduced ilmenite carbon paste (CP) electrode at 30 °C. Intermediate products with different iron contents were formed during the rusting reaction. Synthetic rutile with a negligible iron content was used for the investigations. The reaction mechanism and the influence of TiO2 matrix were studied.