Major Australian minsands producer Iluka Resources Ltd has made advances to its synthetic rutile (syn rutile) process that allows it to use varying grades of ilmenite, the company said.
Syn rutile, which Iluka produces using the Becher process developed by its predecessor RGC (Renison Goldfields Consolidated), normally requires ilmenite feedstock of between 58% and 62% TiO2 but Iluka can now use ilmenite with a lower content.
This feedstock allows Iluka to produce a new syn rutile product, with 85% TiO2 content, from its major resources in the Eucla and...