Abstract:
In the chlorination process for TiO2 pigment production, blends of titania feedstocks such
as ilmenite, synthetic rutile (SR), natural rutile, upgraded slag, and chloride-grade slag are
reacted with coke and chlorine at a temperature of around 1000°C to form TiCl4, which is
the main product, and other waste metal chlorides. TiCl4 is the main feed material for the
TiO2 pigment-making process. Feeding different titania materials to the chlorinator affects
the amounts of coke and chlorine required for the process, the amount of waste generated,
waste disposal costs, the amount of TiCl4 produced, and bed build-up rates. These factors
influence the value of the feedstock. Generally, a higher TiO2 feedstock is more valued
since less waste is generated and less reagents are consumed. To quantify the impact of
different feedstocks on the chlorinator, a techno-economic model was developed to
describe the chlorination process and estimate process variables at steady state. This paper
describes the development of the model and studies in which the model has been used to
quantify the effects of using different feedstocks.
