A Preliminary synthesis of iron oxalate dihydrate (FeC2O4.2H2O) utilizing by product of titanium dioxide processing from ilmenite ore in Bangka, Indonesia
Tri Arini (a,b*), Latifa Hanum Lalasari(b), Eka Nurhidayah(a), Januar Irawan(b), F.Firdiyono(b), Lia Andriyah(b), Fariza Eka Yunita(b), Nadia Chrisayu Natasha(b), Eko Sulistiyono(b), Ariyo Suharyanto(b), Iwan Setiawan(b), Akhmad Herman Yuwono (a,c)

(a) Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, West Java, Indonesia 16424

(b) Research Center for Metallurgy, National Research and Innovation Agency Republic of Indonesia, Kawasan Sains dan Teknologi, BRIN, KST B.J. Habibie Gedung Manajemen 720, Tangerang Selatan 15314, Indonesia

(c) Advanced Materials Research Center (AMRC), Faculty of Engineering Universitas Indonesia, Depok-16424

*ahyuwono[at]eng.ui.ac.id

Abstract

Iron (II) oxalate dihydrate (FeC2O4.2H2O) is extensively developed as a functional material, serving various purposes including a cathode material in lithium ferro phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, pigments, and photocatalysts. Conversely, the conversion of waste or by products into economically significant goods is regarded as an environmentally sustainable project, thus emerging as another prominent research topic in recent years. In consideration of both research interests, this study aims to explore the utilization of TiO2 sulphate liquid waste, which is a by product of the sulphate route of hydrolysis in TiO2 production, as a precursor in the synthesis of FeC2O4.2H2O. The synthesis involves a combination of leaching and precipitation methods, with leaching durations varying from 2 to 5 h at a temperature of 90 C. The materials were characterized using Xray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES), and electron microscopy energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM EDS). The results of the Xray diffraction (XRD) investigation indicate that during crystallization, FeC2O4.2H2O formed a monoclinic alpha structure. The analytical results obtained from ICP OES indicate that the increase in leaching time from 2 to 5 h resulted in an increase in the Fe concentration from 374.48 to 2220.54 ppm, coupled with a reduction in Fe extraction from 87.32 to 24.82%. The SEM analysis reveals rod-shaped FeC2O4.2H2O samples, with particle sizes ranging from 2.22 to 3.96 micro m, correlating with the increase in leaching time. From the provided data, it can be inferred that the TiO2 sulphate liquid waste has considerable potential to be utilized as a precursor in the synthesis of FeC2O4.2H2O.

Keywords: FeC2O4.2H2O, TiO2, precipitation, waste hydrolisis, size distribution

Topic: Mining Engineering and metallurgy