Ilmenite separated from beach sands of Bangladesh was oxidized for I h at 950 degrees C and then reduced in charcoal for 4 h at 1050 degrees C. This was followed by leaching in 5% to 15% hydrochloric acid solution in temperature range of 30 to 75 degrees C for periods of up to 2 h. The results were compared with those obtained by leaching of ilmenite reduced without oxidizing. Oxidation prior to reduction of the ilmenite was found to increase both the extent and the rate of leaching. The residual iron contents after leaching were also found to be lower than that obtained for non-oxidized samples. The kinetic data of leaching of ilmenite reduced after oxidation was found to follow first order reaction model, i.e., G(alpha) = -1n(1-alpha) up to an alpha value of 0.5 (i.e. up to 50% reduction) and then changed to spherical model, i.e., G(alpha) =[1-(1-alpha)](3). On the other hand, leaching of ilmenite reduced without oxidizing was found to follow the Ginstling-Brounshtein reaction, i.e., G(alpha)=1-(2/3)alpha-(1-alpha)(2/3) throughout the leaching process. Oxidation of ilmenite prior to reduction was also found to have decreased the activation energy of leaching from 43 kJ/mol, found for samples leached after reduction without oxidizing, to 30 kJ/mol. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.