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New Process Cleans up Extraction of Titanium Dioxide
- Article from:
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JOM
- Article date:
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March 1, 2008
- Author:
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Copyright informationCopyright Minerals, Metals & Materials Society Mar 2008. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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A new process for extracting titanium dioxide minimizes dangerous byproducts and improves the purity of the final product, according to researchers at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom.
Titanium dioxide, while relatively abundant in nature, is always bound to contaminant metals, such as iron, aluminum, and radioactive elements. Typically, pigment-grade titanium dioxide is produced from mineral ore by smelting and treating the slag with chlorine or by directly introducing it into a sulfuric acid solution. These processes generate toxic and hazardous wastes that require complex treatment.
The process developed by the Leeds researchers consists of roasting the mineral ore with ...