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research papers
Thermal treatment of mineral ores such as ilmenite can initiate phase transformations that could affect their activation or deactivation, subsequently influencing their ability to dissolve in a leaching agent. Most laboratory-based X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies were carried out ex situ in which realistic diffraction patterns could not be obtained simultaneously with occurring reactions and were time-consuming. The availability of synchrotron-radiation-based XRD not only allows in situ analysis, but significantly shortens the data recording time. The present study details the design of a robust high-temperature microfurnace which allows thermal processing of mineral ore samples and the simultaneous collection of high-resolution synchrotron XRD data. In addition, the application of the manufactured microfurnace for in situ study of phase transformations of ilmenite ore under reducing conditions is demonstrated.