Enrichment and reconfiguration of titanium-bearing phase in vortex smelting reduction process of vanadium–titanium magnetite

To comprehensively utilize the low-iron high-vanadium–titanium magnetite, a new method of vortex smelting reduction of vanadium–titanium magnetite was proposed, and the enrichment and reconstitution regularity of Ti-bearing phases in the slag was investigated through X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and optical microscopy. The phase diagram revealed that the preferential crystallization of MgTi₂O₅ can be achieved by adjusting the CaO, MgO, and TiO₂ contents of slag. The predominant Ti-bearing phases in the slag obtained from the reduction process are Mg_xTi_3−xO₅ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) and CaTiO₃. FeTiO₃ is present at carbon–iron ratio (CR) = 1.3, while MgTi₂O₄ and TiC are formed at CR = 1.3. The enrichment of TiO₂ in the slag increases first and then decreases as the CR increases, and at CR = 1.1, the enrichment of TiO₂ in the slag reaches 51.3 wt.%. Additionally, the concentrations of Mg_xTi_3−xO₅ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) and CaTiO₃ in the slag, along with the grain width of Mg_xTi_3−xO₅ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1), decrease with the increase in CR.