Titanium dioxide manufacturing processes

FIGURE 1 Titanium dioxide manufacture by die sulfate process. 

FIGURE 2 Titanium dioxide manufacture by the chloride process. 

Precipitation of a hydrated titanium oxide by mixing aqueous solutions of titanium chloride with alkaU forms the precipitation seeds, which are used to initiate precipitation in the Mecklenburg (50) variant of the sulfate process for the production of pigmentary titanium dioxide. Hydrolysis of aqueous solutions of titanium chloride is also used for the preparation of high purity (>99.999%) titanium dioxide for electroceramic appHcations (see Ceramics). In addition, hydrated titanium dioxide is used as a pure starting material for the manufacture of other titanium compounds. 

Two processes are used in the manufacture of titanium dioxide pigments the sulfate process and the chloride process. The chemistry of the sulfate process, the longer established of the two methods, is illustrated schematically in Scheme 9.1. In this process, crude ilmenite ore, which contains titanium dioxide together with substantial quantities of oxides of iron, is digested with concentrated sulfuric acid, giving a solution containing the sulfates of Ti(iv), Fe(m) and Fe(n). Treatment of this... 

In practical applications, adequate coagulants should be chosen based on the quality of the floated scum (i.e., recovered titanium dioxide and fiber mixture), which is intended to be reused in the paper manufacturing process. The reused titanium dioxide and fibers should not adversely affect the quality of the paper. 

Iron(II) sulphate is a by-product in many industrial processes, such as the manufacture of titanium dioxide, the pickling of steel sheet before galvanising and the reduction of aromatic nitro compounds to amines using iron catalysts. Conversion of waste iron (II) salts to usable iron oxide pigments, where the quality requirements are not too stringent, is therefore a useful proposition, since it uses up chemicals that would otherwise be regarded as waste products. 

Presently there are two main processes for manufacturing this important white pigment. The main one involves reaction of rutile ore (about 95% Ti02) with chlorine to give titanium tetrachloride. For this reason we have chosen to group this key chemical under chlorine and sodium chloride. The titanium tetrachloride is a liquid and can be purified by distillation, bp 136°C. It is then oxidized to pure titanium dioxide and the chlorine is regenerated. Approximately 94% of all titanium dioxide is made by this process. 

Similar to transparent titanium dioxide microparticles of zinc oxide are manufactured by using sol/gel processes or precipitation in the presence of protective colloids to limit particle growth [5.288],... 

Transparent Bar Manufacture. Most milled bars are opaque and contain a whitening agent (titanium dioxide) to create a uniform appearance. By eliminating this whirener and carefully controlling processing conditions, a bar that is transparent can be produced. This... 

Clegg, I.M. Everall, N.J. King, B. Melvin, H. 8t Norton, C. On-Line Analysis Using Raman Spectroscopy for Process Control During the Manufacture of Titanium Dioxide Appl. Spectrosc. 2001, 55, 1138-1150. 

An alternative method for the manufacture of styrene (the oxirane process), uses ethylbenzene that is oxidized to the hydroperoxide and reacts with propylene to give phenylmethylcarbinol (or methyl benzyl alcohol) and propylene oxide. The alcohol is then dehydrated at relatively low temperatures (180 to 400°C) by using an acidic silica gel (Si02) or titanium dioxide (Ti02) catalyst. 

---