A Review of the Production Cycle of Titanium Dioxide Pigment

Abstract

Titanium is a very important element for several industrial applications, being one of the ninth most abundant elements in the Earth's crust (0.63% wt). In this work it will discuss the different mining and industrial activities involved in the production of titanium dioxide. The first step analyzed will treat about the beneficiation mining process of titanium mineral, and secondly, it will discuss the two main processes of the TiO2 manufacturing (sulphate and chloride routes). In addition, we will show different uses of the titanium dioxide pigment as filler in paper, plastics and rubber industries and as flux in glass manufacture, etc. Finally, we will show that the old wastes are currently called co-products since they were valorized, being commercialized by the Spanish industry of TiO2 production in different fields such as agriculture, civil engineering, or cement manufacturing.

Sustainability and the Chemical Industry

“…In another process, developed and commercialized by DuPont in the 1950s, the titanium mineral rutile is converted to titanium tetrachloride in the presence of coke and gaseous chlorine [49].…”

Examining the formation and properties of TiO2 oxide coatings with metals of iron triad

“…Nevertheless, the attention of researchers is drawn among many applied materials to the oxides of titanium [1]. Catalysts based on TiO 2 possess a wide spectrum of functional properties, because of which they are effectively employed in the organic synthesis [2], chemical [3] and paint and varnish industry [4], in the systems of air [5,6] and water purification [7,8]. Of particular scientific interest, due to the high chemical inertness, affordability, low toxicity of the products of purification, are the photocatalysts based on TiO 2 [9,10].…”

Exploring the Use of Unprocessed Waste Chicken Eggshells for UV-Protective Applications

“…Inorganic additives are usually semiconductor oxides like TiO 2 , ZnO, SiO 2 , and Al 2 O 3 , and whether they protect materials by reflecting or absorbing UV is unclear [6]. The most common inorganic additive is titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), with a global consumption of more than 4 million tons in 2005 [7] of which about 60% is used as whitening and UV-protective additives in coatings [8]. The high refractive indices of rutile and anatase (the most common forms of TiO 2 : 2.70 and 2.55, respectively) enable them to efficiently scatter light when formed into particles of the appropriate size (~200 nm) [9] and to absorb light regardless of particle size [6].…”