DECOMPOSITION OF ILMENITE UNDER HYDROTHERMAL CONDITION (PRELIMINARY WORK).

Complete decomposition of ilmenite was observed by treating with hydrothermal solution of IOMKOH under certain optimum conditions. The decomposition products were magnetite and K//2O(TiO//2)//n type of sequence - The stoichiometry of magnetite and n of the K//2O(TiO//2)//n compound formed depend on the conditions employed for the decomposition. At temperatures below 800 degree of and pressure of 300 kg/cm**2 magnetite formed by decomposition existed as magnetite-ulvospinel binary spinel solid solution. Formation of potassium hexa titanate left bracket K//2O(TiO//2)//6 right bracket was favoured at temperatures above 550 degree C.