Chapter 2 - A brief introduction to production of titanium dioxide and titanium tetrachloride

Abstract

This chapter provides a brief overview of titanium production from ore to purified titanium dioxide and titanium tetrachloride. Titanium dioxide is used as pigment material in the production of paints, paper, and many other products as well as a precursor material that is subsequently processed to produce titanium metal. Titanium tetrachloride is used as a precursor to titanium metal production via the Kroll process. The titanium is first processed at the ore site to separate titanium minerals from gangue or unwanted metals. This step is followed by chemical processing to separate titanium chemically from the mineral constituents with which it is associated in the mineral form. The final steps in producing the titanium dioxide and titanium tetrachloride depend on the chemistry used for separating titanium from the other elements found in the source mineral.