Purification of pigment grade titanium dioxide by processing in molten salts

D. Strusevich; A. Maries; M. Tyrer; D. Inman; S. J R Simons; J. A. Gisby

doi:10.1179/1743285511Y.0000000003

Purification of pigment grade titanium dioxide by processing in molten salts

D. Strusevich, A. Maries, M. Tyrer, D. Inman, S. J R Simons, J. A. Gisby

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

An alternative method of purifying the mineral rutile (TiO₂) is reported. This offers potential savings in process energy and reduced waste when compared with current technology. The work reported here focused on refining rutile sand (95%TiO₂) containing transition metal oxides (Fe ₂O₃, SiO₂, ZrO₂, Cr ₂O₃, V₂O₅ and Al₂O ₃), which impart a strong colour to the mineral concentrate. The objective was to remove the colour giving oxides to produce rutile of over 99% purity (which is white in colour). Complete dissolution in molten salt (alkali chloride-fluoride) at 750°C allowed electroseparation of the transition metals between a graphite anode and a stainless steel cathode. The voltage maintained across the cell ensured removal of transition metal ions from the solution, with minimal loss of titanium. In this process, dissolution of TiO₂ was enhanced by partial replacement of chloride by fluoride in the melt to allow the complex ion TiF^2- ₆ to dominate the titanium speciation. This had the additional advantage of minimising losses of Ti as volatile TiCl₄.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	133-138
Number of pages	6
Journal	Transactions of the Institutions of Mining and Metallurgy, Section C: Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy
Volume	120
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1179/1743285511Y.0000000003
Publication status	Published - 2011
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Molten salts
Pigment
Purification
Rutile
Sodium chloride
TiO

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
Geochemistry and Petrology
Chemistry(all)

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Purification of pigment grade titanium dioxide by processing in molten salts. / Strusevich, D.; Maries, A.; Tyrer, M.; Inman, D.; Simons, S. J R; Gisby, J. A.

In: Transactions of the Institutions of Mining and Metallurgy, Section C: Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy, Vol. 120, No. 3, 2011, p. 133-138.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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abstract = "An alternative method of purifying the mineral rutile (TiO2) is reported. This offers potential savings in process energy and reduced waste when compared with current technology. The work reported here focused on refining rutile sand (95%TiO2) containing transition metal oxides (Fe 2O3, SiO2, ZrO2, Cr 2O3, V2O5 and Al2O 3), which impart a strong colour to the mineral concentrate. The objective was to remove the colour giving oxides to produce rutile of over 99% purity (which is white in colour). Complete dissolution in molten salt (alkali chloride-fluoride) at 750°C allowed electroseparation of the transition metals between a graphite anode and a stainless steel cathode. The voltage maintained across the cell ensured removal of transition metal ions from the solution, with minimal loss of titanium. In this process, dissolution of TiO2 was enhanced by partial replacement of chloride by fluoride in the melt to allow the complex ion TiF2- 6 to dominate the titanium speciation. This had the additional advantage of minimising losses of Ti as volatile TiCl4.",

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AU - Strusevich, D.

AU - Maries, A.

AU - Tyrer, M.

AU - Inman, D.

AU - Simons, S. J R

AU - Gisby, J. A.

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N2 - An alternative method of purifying the mineral rutile (TiO2) is reported. This offers potential savings in process energy and reduced waste when compared with current technology. The work reported here focused on refining rutile sand (95%TiO2) containing transition metal oxides (Fe 2O3, SiO2, ZrO2, Cr 2O3, V2O5 and Al2O 3), which impart a strong colour to the mineral concentrate. The objective was to remove the colour giving oxides to produce rutile of over 99% purity (which is white in colour). Complete dissolution in molten salt (alkali chloride-fluoride) at 750°C allowed electroseparation of the transition metals between a graphite anode and a stainless steel cathode. The voltage maintained across the cell ensured removal of transition metal ions from the solution, with minimal loss of titanium. In this process, dissolution of TiO2 was enhanced by partial replacement of chloride by fluoride in the melt to allow the complex ion TiF2- 6 to dominate the titanium speciation. This had the additional advantage of minimising losses of Ti as volatile TiCl4.

AB - An alternative method of purifying the mineral rutile (TiO2) is reported. This offers potential savings in process energy and reduced waste when compared with current technology. The work reported here focused on refining rutile sand (95%TiO2) containing transition metal oxides (Fe 2O3, SiO2, ZrO2, Cr 2O3, V2O5 and Al2O 3), which impart a strong colour to the mineral concentrate. The objective was to remove the colour giving oxides to produce rutile of over 99% purity (which is white in colour). Complete dissolution in molten salt (alkali chloride-fluoride) at 750°C allowed electroseparation of the transition metals between a graphite anode and a stainless steel cathode. The voltage maintained across the cell ensured removal of transition metal ions from the solution, with minimal loss of titanium. In this process, dissolution of TiO2 was enhanced by partial replacement of chloride by fluoride in the melt to allow the complex ion TiF2- 6 to dominate the titanium speciation. This had the additional advantage of minimising losses of Ti as volatile TiCl4.

KW - Molten salts

KW - Pigment

KW - Purification

KW - Rutile

KW - Sodium chloride

KW - TiO

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