Title of Invention	A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF TITANIUM DIOXIDE USING AQUEOUS FLUORIDE
Abstract	A process is described for the production of titanium dioxide by the treatment with ammonium fluoride of titanium ores containing iron; the process comprises the following steps : (a) the titanium ore containing iron is reacted with an aqueous NH4F and/or NH4HF2 solution; (b) the aqueous dispersion thus obtained is filtered with consequent separation of a solid residue and an aqueous solution containing titanium salts; (c) the aqueous solution thus obtained is subjected to hydrolysis, the hydrolysis comprising a first stage at pH 7.0-8.5 and a second stage at pH 10.0-13.0; (d) the aqueous dispersion thus obtained is filtered and the solid residue is subjected to pyrohydrolysis, the pyrohydrolysis comprising a first stage at a maximum temperature of 450 °C and a second stage at a maximum temperature of 1000 °C.

Title of Invention

A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF TITANIUM DIOXIDE USING AQUEOUS FLUORIDE

Abstract

A process is described for the production of titanium dioxide by the treatment with ammonium fluoride of titanium ores containing iron; the process comprises the following steps : (a) the titanium ore containing iron is reacted with an aqueous NH4F and/or NH4HF2 solution; (b) the aqueous dispersion thus obtained is filtered with consequent separation of a solid residue and an aqueous solution containing titanium salts; (c) the aqueous solution thus obtained is subjected to hydrolysis, the hydrolysis comprising a first stage at pH 7.0-8.5 and a second stage at pH 10.0-13.0; (d) the aqueous dispersion thus obtained is filtered and the solid residue is subjected to pyrohydrolysis, the pyrohydrolysis comprising a first stage at a maximum temperature of 450 °C and a second stage at a maximum temperature of 1000 °C.

Full Text	The present invention relates to a process for the production of titanium dioxide by the treatment with ammonium fluoride of titanium ores containing iron, comprising the following steps: (a) the titanium ore containing iron is reacted with an aqueous NH4F and/or NH4HF2 solution; (b) the aqueous dispersion thus obtained is filtered with consequent separation of a solid residue and an aqueous solution containing titanium salts; (c) the aqueous solution thus obtained is subjected to hydrolysis, the hydrolysis comprising a first stage at pH 7.0-8.5 and a second stage at pH 10.0- 13.0; (d) the aqueous dispersion thus obtained is filtered and the solid residue is subjected to pyrohydrolysis, the pyrohydrolysis comprising a first stage at a maximum temperature of 450°C and a second stage at a maximum temperature of 1000°C. State of the art Titanium dioxide is a white pigment which is used to a large extent in industry and is normally obtained by the processing of titanium ores such as, for example, ilmenite. Iron is the principal impurity of titanium ores; the primary objective of the processes known in the art is consequently to achieve the greatest degree of separation of titanium and iron at the lowest cost. United States patent No. 4168297 describes a process for the separation of iron from titanium in fluoride solution by leaching which consists of the extraction of the iron (III) with alkylphosphoric acids; this process leads to the production of titanium dioxide which is not sufficiently pure; it is also expensive, complex and hazardous to the environment. Russian patent No. 2144504 describes a process which provides for the precipitation of iron fluoride at a pH of between 4 and 8 and Russian patent No. 2182886 describes a process in which the precipitation takes place at a pH of between 6.0 and 7.5. A process for the separation of iron from titanium based on their different solubilities in ammonium fluoride solution is described in United States patent No. 4107264, in which the iron is precipitated as ammonium fluoroferrate at a pH of between 6.0 and 6.8. Russian patent No. 2058408 describes a method of separating iron from titanium by leaching of the raw material by fusion with ammonium hydrofluoride at a temperature of 50-180°C. United States patent No. 2042435 describes a process for the separation of iron from titanium in fluoride solutions which provides for the treatment of the ore with an aqueous solution of ammonium fluoride compounds at temperatures of 140-150°C, followed by distillation to give a solid residue; the solid residue is then dissolved in hot water or in ammonium fluoride solution; the resulting ammonium fluoroferrates remain in the solid residue whilst the fluorotitanates pass into solution; the solution is filtered and neutralized and the remaining iron particles are removed by treating the solution thus obtained with a soluble sulphide. However the above-mentioned processes produce titanium dioxide having unsatisfactory purity, stability and/or particle size; they are also very expensive and lead to the production of by-products which must be disposed of. Description of the invention The process according to the present invention has considerable advantages over the processes known in the art: • the titanium dioxide which is obtained by this process is 6-7 times more stable with respect to irradiation with UV rays than the product that is currently available commercially and produced by conventional processes; it can therefore be used to produce products with a white colour which is durable over time; • the titanium dioxide thus obtained has a particle size of 0.1-4.0 µm which can therefore be marketed without further milling treatments; • the process does not produce waste by-products; the ammonia which is evolved can in fact be recycled as can the ammonium fluoride; the iron content of the starting ore, on the other hand, is isolated as Fe2O3 which in turn is a red pigment that is of commercial interest; • the process, again compared with conventional processes, requires less energy expenditure. The extraction process according to the present invention starts with the extraction of the titanium from the ilmenite ore (FeTiO3) , which may optionally be enriched; this extraction takes place in a suitable reactor by reacting the ore with a concentrated aqueous solution (from 40 to 60% by weight, preferably about 50%) of ammonium fluoride (NH4F) and/or NH4HF2. The ore is introduced into the reactor in the form of sand with an average particle size of 0.05-1.5 mm, preferably about 0.1 mm, and may be preheated to 80- 120°C, preferably to about 100°C. It is advisable to admit the sand to the base of the reactor with a system which prevents the gases that are present in the reactor from going back through the sand-input duct. The aqueous ammonium fluoride (NH4F) and/or NH4HF2 solution is also preferably introduced at the base of the reactor and may be preheated to 80-120°C, preferably to about 100°C; the ratio by weight between ilmenite and NH4F and/or NH4HF2 solution is normally between 1:1.5 and 1:3 and is preferably about 1:2. The reactor is provided with an apparatus for stirring the ilmenite sand so as to promote intimate contact between the reagents (ilmenite and solution), particularly in the lower region of the reactor. The stirring may be such as not to create turbulent motion in the upper portion of the reactor; in the most preferred embodiment, the stirring speed should not exceed 20 revolutions/minute, preferably 10 revolutions/minute. The temperature in the reactor is kept at 100-120°C, preferably about 108°C, and a pressure of between about 1 and 2 bar is maintained; this can be achieved by conventional devices known in the art, for example, by a jacket heating system outside the reactor; in the most preferred embodiment, most of the heat is transmitted through the lower portion of the reactor where the concentration of the reagents is greatest; moreover, to prevent leakage of gaseous compounds into the outside environment, it is advisable to use a leaktight reactor. The reaction has a preferred duration of 40 to 80 minutes. The pH inside the reactor in these operative conditions is about 6.5-7.0. Gaseous ammonia is evolved by the reaction; this can be conveyed out of the reactor and absorbed in water to give a concentrated solution (about 24% by weight) of ammonium hydroxide NH4OH which in turn can be used in the subsequent stages of hydrolysis of the titanium salts. The removal of the ammonia also enables the pressure inside the reactor to be regulated (normally to about 1 bar). The reaction between FeTiO3 and NH4F and/or NH4HF2 (in aqueous solution) produces two salts: titanium ammonium hexafluoride (NH4)2TiF6 and iron (ferric) ammonium hexafluoride (NH4)3FeF6. The titanium salt has a solubility which is directly dependent on the temperature and inversely dependent on the concentration of NH4F and/or NH4HF2; it therefore remains in solution in the reaction conditions. The iron salt on the other hand has negligible solubility and remains in the form of a solid dispersion. An aqueous solution of the salts NH4F and (NH4)2TiF6, containing the dispersion of the salt (NH4)3FeF6 is recovered from the reactor; the concentration of NH4F is normally 20-35% by weight, preferably about 25-30%, which corresponds to the maximum concentration of the titanium salt in solution which, in these conditions, is about 9-11% by weight and in any case does not exceed 12% by weight. The dispersion output from the reactor is passed through a filter which can retain solid particles with dimensions of between 0.1 and 2.0 µm; this result can be achieved with meshes having 2-3 nm holes, preferably about 2.5 nm holes. The solid dispersion of the iron salt is separated from the titanium salt solution in this section. The filtered sludge can be washed further with NH4F solution and then filtered a second time; these two filtrations may take place in the same filtering apparatus. The filtration provides as outputs: (a) a sludgy solid portion containing the iron salt (NH4)3FeF6 and ammonium fluoride (NH4F) ; (b) an aqueous solution containing the titanium salt (NH4)2TiF6, ammonium fluoride (NH4F) , and traces of the iron salt (NH4)3FeF6 which represents the contaminant of the final product. The sludgy solid portion (a) normally has a moisture content of between 10 and 20% by weight, depending on the filtering device used. The aqueous solution (b) normally has an iron salt (NH4)3FeF6 content of about 0.04-0.06% by weight. The aqueous solution (b) output from the filtration stage is then further purified of the iron salt (NH4)3FeF6 with the objective of reducing the concentration thereof to below 0.01% by weight, preferably below 0.001% (understood as the concentration of the iron salt). This takes place by shifting the pH of the solution to 7.0-8.5, preferably 7.5-8.0 by the addition of concentrated ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) (about 24% by weight); this operation causes the formation of an insoluble ammonium oxyfluorotitanate [ (NH4) 3TiOF5] which precipitates, incorporating the residual iron salt (NH4)3FeF6 (and is in fact a chemical filtration. The operation is performed in a reactor at a temperature of 50-70°C, preferably about 60°C, with stirring; the stirring speed is normally 40-90 revolutions/minute, preferably about 50 revolutions/minute; the quantity of NH4OH to be added is normally a large excess with respect to the quantity required by the reaction and is regulated by regulating the pH in the stream output from the container to the preferred value of 7.5-8.0. The dispersion is filtered to give an aqueous solution of the titanium salt (NH4)2TiF6, further purified of the compounds containing iron, and a sludge containing the titanium complex and the iron salt (NH4)3FeF6. The sludge can be re-dissolved in a further container provided with stirring, by acidification; this takes place by the addition of a concentrated solution of NH4F and/or optionally NH4HF2 (about 40-50% by weight) to a pH of about 6.5-7.0; the titanium salt thus becomes soluble again forming (NH4)2TiF6. The solution/dispersion thus obtained is then recirculated in addition to the output flow from the main reactor. This solution/dispersion contains both the soluble titanium salt (NH4)2TiF6 and the insoluble iron salt (NH4)3FeF6 which was incorporated by ammonium oxyfluorotitanate during its precipitation. This allows the complete recovery of both metals without producing wastes. The purified solution, which contains the titanium salt (NH4)2TiF6, NH4F, and water, is then subjected to intense hydrolysis to give a sludge containing titanium complexes and to a subsequent high-temperature pyrohydrolysis. This method of operation enables smaller apparatuses to be used in the high-temperature stages than would be necessary for processing the untreated solution. The intense hydrolysis is performed in a reactor provided with stirring (approximately 10 revolutions/minute), whilst a temperature of 50-70°C, preferably about 60°C, is maintained. The reaction is brought about by bringing the pH of the solution to very high values, preferably of 10-13, even more preferably of about 11-12 (monitored on the stream output from the reactor); this result is obtained by the addition of a concentrated ammonium hydroxide NH4OH solution (about 24% by weight); this ammonium hydroxide solution is preferably used with a large excess with respect to the quantity required by the reaction. The hydrolysis brings about the precipitation of a mixture of titanium salts and oxides (NH4)2TiOF4+(NH4)3TiOF5+TiO2 in the form of particles having a size of about 0.01 urn. An aqueous solution of NH4F with a solid composed of salts that can be filtered is thus created in the hydrolysis reactor. The dispersion thus obtained is then filtered through an extremely fine-mesh filter (2-3 nm, preferably about 2.5 nm) ; the solution which emerges from the filter, containing NH4F, water, and traces of titanium salts, can be recirculated and reused to fill the reactor, normally after concentration to 40-45% by weight. The sludgy portion output from the filter, which normally has a moisture content of between 10 and 20% by weight, depending on the filtering device, is subjected to a pyrohydrolysis process. The process is divided into two stages to be performed in two separate ovens. 1st stage: after drying to eliminate the water, the sludge containing the titanium salts undergoes a first hot hydrolysis at a maximum temperature of 450°C, preferably at 340-400°C, even more preferably at about 360-380°C, for a period of 1-3 hours, preferably about 2 hours; this normally takes place in an oven in an atmosphere of superheated steam and with continuous remixing. In these conditions, all of the fluoro- ammonia bonds are broken, giving an intermediate product in powder form constituted by TiO2 (95-97%) and TiOF2. The gaseous compounds extracted from the oven, containing NH3, HF, and H2O, are normally cooled and absorbed in water to give a concentrated solution of NH4F which can be recirculated and reused to fill the reactor. It is advisable not to cool the gases below 200°C prior to the absorption in water, to prevent the formation of NH4HF2 crystals, resulting in blockage of the tubing. IInd stage: the first stage produces TiO2 containing traces of TiOF2 which is a grey-blue powder and is therefore a contaminant for the final product TiO2 which instead must be characterized by a high degree of whiteness. This contaminant is eliminated by subsequent pyrohydrolysis at a temperature no greater than 1000°C, preferably 700-900°C, even more preferably 750-850°C, that is, about 800°C. This second pyrohydrolysis is normally performed in an oven with continuous stirring, for 60-180 minutes, preferably for about 90-120 minutes. For the completion of the reaction, it is advisable to admit air and superheated steam to the oven. Gases at high temperature containing substantially water, air and a few parts by weight of hydrofluoric acid (HF) will also be output from this oven and can be added to those from the preceding oven for the extraction and washing stage. The reaction gases which emerge from the second oven normally represent only 5% of the total gases coming from the two ovens. In addition to the main reaction, the first pyrohydrolysis oven must ensure the complete elimination of the ammonia compounds from the solid product which will undergo the subsequent high- temperature pyrolysis stage in the second oven. In fact the high temperature (about 800°C) of the second oven would cause probable splitting-up of any NH3 which had not been eliminated into nitrogen N2 and hydrogen H2 with the consequent risk of the creation of explosive gas mixtures. With reference to the above-described pyrohydrolysis process performed in the two ovens arranged in series, it is worth mentioning that: • the sludge input to the first pyrolysis oven is composed of particles with sizes of about 0.01 µm; • the particles of the dust output from the first oven have sizes of about 0.1-2.5 µm; • the product output from the second oven is constituted by a dust with particles of sizes variable from about 0.1 µm to about 4 µm, depending on the time spent in the oven. Given the particular fineness of the TiO2 dust thus obtained, it can be marketed without the further milling treatments which are necessary in the processes for the transformation of ilmenite into titanium dioxide that are known in the art. The solid-sludgy portion which is output from the main filtration and contains the iron salt (NH4)3FeF6 and ammonium fluoride (NH4F) and which normally has a moisture content of between 10 and 20% by weight may be subjected, after a first drying stage, to a similar pyrohydrolysis process in a single oven to give a red Fe2O3 pigment which in turn can be marketed. This pyrolysis can be performed at a maximum temperature of 450°C, preferably at 340-400°C, even more preferably at about 360-380°C for about 2-4 hours, preferably 3 hours, in an atmosphere of superheated steam with a continuous remixing action. The gases evolved from this reaction, containing NH3, HF, H2O, can also be recirculated and reused to fill the reactor after suitable cooling and absorption in water to give a concentrated NH4F solution. Naturally, the materials used in the three ovens must be such as to withstand the working temperatures and, in particular, the common presence of hydrofluoric acid HF in the gaseous phase. Similarly, all of the elements making up the plant to be used for the process of the invention must be made of materials which can withstand the effects of hydrofluoric acid. Detailed description of the process Figure 1 is a block diagram which shows the preferred implementation of the process as a whole. The reactor (1) is connected to a container (2) for the ilmenite dust and to a container (3) for the ammonium fluoride. Also indicated are the outputs of the iron salt dispersion/titanium salt solution (4), of the sludges (5), and of the gas (6) from the reactor (1), as well as an absorber (7) for the ammonia, in which the aqueous NH4OH solution is produced. The iron salt dispersion/titanium salt solution (4) is sent to a first filter (8) with a filtrate output (9) and a sludge output (10) ; the sludge (10) can be sent to a second filter (11) with a filtrate output (12) and a sludge output (13) or directly to the pyrohydrolysis reactor (30) for producing Fe2O3. The filtrate (9) , with which the filtrate (12) may be combined, is sent to the hydrolysis reactor (14); the stream (15) output from the hydrolysis reactor (14) is sent to a filter (16) provided with a sludge output (17) connected to a reactor for solubilizing the titanium salts (18) which are then recirculated through the line (19) . The filtrate output from the filter (16) is sent through the line (20) to the intense hydrolysis reactor (21), the discharge (22) of which is connected to a filter (23) by means of which the sludge containing the mixture of titanium salts and oxides (NH4)2TiOF4+(NH4)3TiOF5+TiO2 is recovered. This sludge is sent through the line (24) to a first pyrohydrolysis reactor (25) which is connected by the line (26) to a second pyrohydrolysis reactor (27) with an output (28) communicating with a container (29) for the storage of the TiO2 powder. The aqueous NH4OH solution formed in the ammonia absorber (7) can be sent to the hydrolysis reactors (14) and (21) through the lines (33) and (33bis) , respectively. The solution (34) output from the filter (23) , containing NH4F, water, and traces of titanium salts, is sent to the concentration plant (35) and is then recirculated to the reactor for the solubilization of the titanium salts (18) and to the ammonium fluoride container (3) through the lines (36) and (36bis), respectively. We Claim: 1. A process for the production of titanium dioxide comprising the following steps: (a) a titanium ore containing iron is reacted with an aqueous NH4F and/or NH4HF2 solution; (b) the aqueous dispersion thus obtained is filtered with consequent separation of a solid residue and an aqueous solution containing titanium salts; (c) the aqueous solution thus obtained is subjected to hydrolysis, the hydrolysis comprising a first stage at pH 7.0-8.5 and a second stage at pH 10.0-13.0; (d) the aqueous dispersion thus obtained is filtered and the solid residue is subjected to pyrohydrolysis, the pyrohydrolysis comprising a first stage at a maximum temperature of 450°C and a second stage at a maximum temperature of 1000°C. 2. A process as claimed in Claim 1, wherein step (a) is performed at 100-120°C, preferably about 108°C. 3. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein step (a) is performed at a pressure of about 1-2 bar. 4. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein step (a) is performed at a pH of about 6.5-7.0. 5. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein step (a) has a duration of 40 to 80 minutes. 6. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aqueous NH4F and/or NH4HF2 solution of step (a) has a concentration of 30-60% by weight, preferably about 45%. 7. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filtration of step (b) and/or step (d) is performed with meshes having 2-3 nm holes, preferably approximately 2.5 nm holes. 8. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hydrolysis (c) is performed by the addition of an ammonium hydroxide solution. 9. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hydrolysis (c) is performed with stirring, the first stage at a speed of 40-60 revolutions/ minute, preferably at about 50 revolutions/minute, the second stage at about 10 revolutions/minute. 10. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first stage of the hydrolysis (c) is performed at a pH of about 7.5-8.0. 11. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second stage of the hydrolysis (c) is performed at a pH of about 11-12. 12. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispersion obtained from the first stage of the hydrolysis (c) is filtered to give an aqueous solution containing the titanium salt (NH4)2TiF6 and having a (NH4)3FeF6 concentration lower than 0.01% by weight, preferably lower than 0.001%, and a sludge fraction containing ammonium oxyfluorotitanate and (NH4)3FeF6. 13. A process as claimed in claim 12, wherein said aqueous solution is subjected to the second stage of the hydrolysis (c) . 14. A process as claimed in claim 12, wherein said sludge fraction, upon dissolution, is recirculated in addition to the output flow from step (a). 15. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first stage of the pyrohydrolysis (d) is performed at about 340-400°C. 16. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first stage of the pyrohydrolysis (d) is performed at about 360-380°C. 17. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first stage of the pyrohydrolysis (d) is performed for 1-3 hours, preferably for about 2 hours. 18. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second stage of the pyrohydrolysis (d) is performed at 700-900°C. 19. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second stage of the pyrohydrolysis (d) is performed at 750-850°C, preferably at about 800°C. 20. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second stage of the pyrohydrolysis (d) is performed for 60-180 minutes, preferably for about 90-120 minutes. 21. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the solid residue of step (b) is subjected to pyrohydrolysis at a maximum temperature of 450°C, preferably at 340-400°C. 22. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the solid residue of step (b) is subjected to pyrohydrolysis at 360-380°C. 23. A process as claimed in Claims 21 and 22, wherein the pyrohydrolysis is performed for 2-4 hours, preferably for 3 hours. 24. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the titanium ore containing iron is ilmenite, preferably with an average particle size of 0.05-1.5 mm, even more preferably of about 0.1 mm. (54) Title: A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF TITANIUM DIOXIDE USING AQUEOUS FLUORIDE (57) Abstract: A process is described for the production of titanium dioxide by the treatment with ammonium fluoride of titanium ores containing iron; the process comprises the following steps : (a) the titanium ore containing iron is reacted with an aqueous NH4F and/or NH4HF2 solution; (b) the aqueous dispersion thus obtained is filtered with consequent separation of a solid residue and an aqueous solution containing titanium salts; (c) the aqueous solution thus obtained is subjected to hydrolysis, the hydrolysis comprising a first stage at pH 7.0-8.5 and a second stage at pH 10.0-13.0; (d) the aqueous dispersion thus obtained is filtered and the solid residue is subjected to pyrohydrolysis, the pyrohydrolysis comprising a first stage at a maximum temperature of 450 °C and a second stage at a maximum temperature of 1000 °C.

Full Text

The present invention relates to a process for the
production of titanium dioxide by the treatment with
ammonium fluoride of titanium ores containing iron,
comprising the following steps:
(a) the titanium ore containing iron is reacted with
an aqueous NH4F and/or NH4HF2 solution;
(b) the aqueous dispersion thus obtained is filtered
with consequent separation of a solid residue and
an aqueous solution containing titanium salts;
(c) the aqueous solution thus obtained is subjected to
hydrolysis, the hydrolysis comprising a first
stage at pH 7.0-8.5 and a second stage at pH 10.0-
13.0;
(d) the aqueous dispersion thus obtained is filtered
and the solid residue is subjected to
pyrohydrolysis, the pyrohydrolysis comprising a
first stage at a maximum temperature of 450°C and
a second stage at a maximum temperature of 1000°C.
State of the art
Titanium dioxide is a white pigment which is used to a
large extent in industry and is normally obtained by
the processing of titanium ores such as, for example,
ilmenite. Iron is the principal impurity of titanium
ores; the primary objective of the processes known in
the art is consequently to achieve the greatest degree
of separation of titanium and iron at the lowest cost.
United States patent No. 4168297 describes a process
for the separation of iron from titanium in fluoride

solution by leaching which consists of the extraction
of the iron (III) with alkylphosphoric acids; this
process leads to the production of titanium dioxide
which is not sufficiently pure; it is also expensive,
complex and hazardous to the environment.
Russian patent No. 2144504 describes a process which
provides for the precipitation of iron fluoride at a pH
of between 4 and 8 and Russian patent No. 2182886
describes a process in which the precipitation takes
place at a pH of between 6.0 and 7.5.
A process for the separation of iron from titanium
based on their different solubilities in ammonium
fluoride solution is described in United States patent
No. 4107264, in which the iron is precipitated as
ammonium fluoroferrate at a pH of between 6.0 and 6.8.
Russian patent No. 2058408 describes a method of
separating iron from titanium by leaching of the raw
material by fusion with ammonium hydrofluoride at a
temperature of 50-180°C.
United States patent No. 2042435 describes a process
for the separation of iron from titanium in fluoride
solutions which provides for the treatment of the ore
with an aqueous solution of ammonium fluoride compounds
at temperatures of 140-150°C, followed by distillation
to give a solid residue; the solid residue is then
dissolved in hot water or in ammonium fluoride
solution; the resulting ammonium fluoroferrates remain
in the solid residue whilst the fluorotitanates pass
into solution; the solution is filtered and
neutralized and the remaining iron particles are

removed by treating the solution thus obtained with a
soluble sulphide.
However the above-mentioned processes produce titanium
dioxide having unsatisfactory purity, stability and/or
particle size; they are also very expensive and lead
to the production of by-products which must be disposed
of.
Description of the invention
The process according to the present invention has
considerable advantages over the processes known in the
art:
• the titanium dioxide which is obtained by this
process is 6-7 times more stable with respect to
irradiation with UV rays than the product that is
currently available commercially and produced by
conventional processes; it can therefore be used
to produce products with a white colour which is
durable over time;
• the titanium dioxide thus obtained has a particle
size of 0.1-4.0 µm which can therefore be marketed
without further milling treatments;
• the process does not produce waste by-products;
the ammonia which is evolved can in fact be
recycled as can the ammonium fluoride; the iron
content of the starting ore, on the other hand, is
isolated as Fe2O3 which in turn is a red pigment
that is of commercial interest;
• the process, again compared with conventional
processes, requires less energy expenditure.

The extraction process according to the present
invention starts with the extraction of the titanium
from the ilmenite ore (FeTiO3) , which may optionally be
enriched; this extraction takes place in a suitable
reactor by reacting the ore with a concentrated aqueous
solution (from 40 to 60% by weight, preferably about
50%) of ammonium fluoride (NH4F) and/or NH4HF2.
The ore is introduced into the reactor in the form of
sand with an average particle size of 0.05-1.5 mm,
preferably about 0.1 mm, and may be preheated to 80-
120°C, preferably to about 100°C. It is advisable to
admit the sand to the base of the reactor with a system
which prevents the gases that are present in the
reactor from going back through the sand-input duct.
The aqueous ammonium fluoride (NH4F) and/or NH4HF2
solution is also preferably introduced at the base of
the reactor and may be preheated to 80-120°C,
preferably to about 100°C; the ratio by weight between
ilmenite and NH4F and/or NH4HF2 solution is normally
between 1:1.5 and 1:3 and is preferably about 1:2.
The reactor is provided with an apparatus for stirring
the ilmenite sand so as to promote intimate contact
between the reagents (ilmenite and solution),
particularly in the lower region of the reactor. The
stirring may be such as not to create turbulent motion
in the upper portion of the reactor; in the most
preferred embodiment, the stirring speed should not
exceed 20 revolutions/minute, preferably 10
revolutions/minute.

The temperature in the reactor is kept at 100-120°C,
preferably about 108°C, and a pressure of between about
1 and 2 bar is maintained; this can be achieved by
conventional devices known in the art, for example, by
a jacket heating system outside the reactor; in the
most preferred embodiment, most of the heat is
transmitted through the lower portion of the reactor
where the concentration of the reagents is greatest;
moreover, to prevent leakage of gaseous compounds into
the outside environment, it is advisable to use a
leaktight reactor. The reaction has a preferred
duration of 40 to 80 minutes.
The pH inside the reactor in these operative conditions
is about 6.5-7.0.
Gaseous ammonia is evolved by the reaction; this can
be conveyed out of the reactor and absorbed in water to
give a concentrated solution (about 24% by weight) of
ammonium hydroxide NH4OH which in turn can be used in
the subsequent stages of hydrolysis of the titanium
salts. The removal of the ammonia also enables the
pressure inside the reactor to be regulated (normally
to about 1 bar).
The reaction between FeTiO3 and NH4F and/or NH4HF2 (in
aqueous solution) produces two salts: titanium
ammonium hexafluoride (NH4)2TiF6 and iron (ferric)
ammonium hexafluoride (NH4)3FeF6. The titanium salt has
a solubility which is directly dependent on the
temperature and inversely dependent on the
concentration of NH4F and/or NH4HF2; it therefore
remains in solution in the reaction conditions. The

iron salt on the other hand has negligible solubility
and remains in the form of a solid dispersion.
An aqueous solution of the salts NH4F and (NH4)2TiF6,
containing the dispersion of the salt (NH4)3FeF6 is
recovered from the reactor; the concentration of NH4F
is normally 20-35% by weight, preferably about 25-30%,
which corresponds to the maximum concentration of the
titanium salt in solution which, in these conditions,
is about 9-11% by weight and in any case does not
exceed 12% by weight.
The dispersion output from the reactor is passed
through a filter which can retain solid particles with
dimensions of between 0.1 and 2.0 µm; this result can
be achieved with meshes having 2-3 nm holes, preferably
about 2.5 nm holes. The solid dispersion of the iron
salt is separated from the titanium salt solution in
this section.
The filtered sludge can be washed further with NH4F
solution and then filtered a second time; these two
filtrations may take place in the same filtering
apparatus.
The filtration provides as outputs:
(a) a sludgy solid portion containing the iron salt
(NH4)3FeF6 and ammonium fluoride (NH4F) ;
(b) an aqueous solution containing the titanium salt
(NH4)2TiF6, ammonium fluoride (NH4F) , and traces of
the iron salt (NH4)3FeF6 which represents the
contaminant of the final product.

The sludgy solid portion (a) normally has a moisture
content of between 10 and 20% by weight, depending on
the filtering device used. The aqueous solution (b)
normally has an iron salt (NH4)3FeF6 content of about
0.04-0.06% by weight.
The aqueous solution (b) output from the filtration
stage is then further purified of the iron salt
(NH4)3FeF6 with the objective of reducing the
concentration thereof to below 0.01% by weight,
preferably below 0.001% (understood as the
concentration of the iron salt).
This takes place by shifting the pH of the solution to
7.0-8.5, preferably 7.5-8.0 by the addition of
concentrated ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) (about 24% by
weight); this operation causes the formation of an
insoluble ammonium oxyfluorotitanate [ (NH4) 3TiOF5]
which precipitates, incorporating the residual iron
salt (NH4)3FeF6 (and is in fact a chemical filtration.
The operation is performed in a reactor at a
temperature of 50-70°C, preferably about 60°C, with
stirring; the stirring speed is normally 40-90
revolutions/minute, preferably about 50
revolutions/minute; the quantity of NH4OH to be added
is normally a large excess with respect to the quantity
required by the reaction and is regulated by regulating
the pH in the stream output from the container to the
preferred value of 7.5-8.0.
The dispersion is filtered to give an aqueous solution
of the titanium salt (NH4)2TiF6, further purified of the

compounds containing iron, and a sludge containing the
titanium complex and the iron salt (NH4)3FeF6.
The sludge can be re-dissolved in a further container
provided with stirring, by acidification; this takes
place by the addition of a concentrated solution of
NH4F and/or optionally NH4HF2 (about 40-50% by weight)
to a pH of about 6.5-7.0; the titanium salt thus
becomes soluble again forming (NH4)2TiF6. The
solution/dispersion thus obtained is then recirculated
in addition to the output flow from the main reactor.
This solution/dispersion contains both the soluble
titanium salt (NH4)2TiF6 and the insoluble iron salt
(NH4)3FeF6 which was incorporated by ammonium
oxyfluorotitanate during its precipitation. This allows
the complete recovery of both metals without producing
wastes.
The purified solution, which contains the titanium salt
(NH4)2TiF6, NH4F, and water, is then subjected to
intense hydrolysis to give a sludge containing titanium
complexes and to a subsequent high-temperature
pyrohydrolysis. This method of operation enables
smaller apparatuses to be used in the high-temperature
stages than would be necessary for processing the
untreated solution.
The intense hydrolysis is performed in a reactor
provided with stirring (approximately 10
revolutions/minute), whilst a temperature of 50-70°C,
preferably about 60°C, is maintained. The reaction is
brought about by bringing the pH of the solution to
very high values, preferably of 10-13, even more
preferably of about 11-12 (monitored on the stream

output from the reactor); this result is obtained by
the addition of a concentrated ammonium hydroxide NH4OH
solution (about 24% by weight); this ammonium
hydroxide solution is preferably used with a large
excess with respect to the quantity required by the
reaction.
The hydrolysis brings about the precipitation of a
mixture of titanium salts and oxides
(NH4)2TiOF4+(NH4)3TiOF5+TiO2 in the form of particles
having a size of about 0.01 urn. An aqueous solution of
NH4F with a solid composed of salts that can be
filtered is thus created in the hydrolysis reactor.
The dispersion thus obtained is then filtered through
an extremely fine-mesh filter (2-3 nm, preferably about
2.5 nm) ; the solution which emerges from the filter,
containing NH4F, water, and traces of titanium salts,
can be recirculated and reused to fill the reactor,
normally after concentration to 40-45% by weight.
The sludgy portion output from the filter, which
normally has a moisture content of between 10 and 20%
by weight, depending on the filtering device, is
subjected to a pyrohydrolysis process. The process is
divided into two stages to be performed in two separate
ovens.
1st stage: after drying to eliminate the water, the
sludge containing the titanium salts undergoes a first
hot hydrolysis at a maximum temperature of 450°C,
preferably at 340-400°C, even more preferably at about
360-380°C, for a period of 1-3 hours, preferably about
2 hours; this normally takes place in an oven in an

atmosphere of superheated steam and with continuous
remixing. In these conditions, all of the fluoro-
ammonia bonds are broken, giving an intermediate
product in powder form constituted by TiO2 (95-97%) and
TiOF2. The gaseous compounds extracted from the oven,
containing NH3, HF, and H2O, are normally cooled and
absorbed in water to give a concentrated solution of
NH4F which can be recirculated and reused to fill the
reactor. It is advisable not to cool the gases below
200°C prior to the absorption in water, to prevent the
formation of NH4HF2 crystals, resulting in blockage of
the tubing.
IInd stage: the first stage produces TiO2 containing
traces of TiOF2 which is a grey-blue powder and is
therefore a contaminant for the final product TiO2
which instead must be characterized by a high degree of
whiteness. This contaminant is eliminated by
subsequent pyrohydrolysis at a temperature no greater
than 1000°C, preferably 700-900°C, even more preferably
750-850°C, that is, about 800°C. This second
pyrohydrolysis is normally performed in an oven with
continuous stirring, for 60-180 minutes, preferably for
about 90-120 minutes. For the completion of the
reaction, it is advisable to admit air and superheated
steam to the oven. Gases at high temperature
containing substantially water, air and a few parts by
weight of hydrofluoric acid (HF) will also be output
from this oven and can be added to those from the
preceding oven for the extraction and washing stage.
The reaction gases which emerge from the second oven
normally represent only 5% of the total gases coming
from the two ovens.

In addition to the main reaction, the first
pyrohydrolysis oven must ensure the complete
elimination of the ammonia compounds from the solid
product which will undergo the subsequent high-
temperature pyrolysis stage in the second oven. In
fact the high temperature (about 800°C) of the second
oven would cause probable splitting-up of any NH3 which
had not been eliminated into nitrogen N2 and hydrogen
H2 with the consequent risk of the creation of
explosive gas mixtures.
With reference to the above-described pyrohydrolysis
process performed in the two ovens arranged in series,
it is worth mentioning that:
• the sludge input to the first pyrolysis oven is
composed of particles with sizes of about 0.01 µm;
• the particles of the dust output from the first
oven have sizes of about 0.1-2.5 µm;
• the product output from the second oven is
constituted by a dust with particles of sizes
variable from about 0.1 µm to about 4 µm,
depending on the time spent in the oven.
Given the particular fineness of the TiO2 dust thus
obtained, it can be marketed without the further
milling treatments which are necessary in the processes
for the transformation of ilmenite into titanium
dioxide that are known in the art.
The solid-sludgy portion which is output from the main
filtration and contains the iron salt (NH4)3FeF6 and
ammonium fluoride (NH4F) and which normally has a
moisture content of between 10 and 20% by weight may be

subjected, after a first drying stage, to a similar
pyrohydrolysis process in a single oven to give a red
Fe2O3 pigment which in turn can be marketed. This
pyrolysis can be performed at a maximum temperature of
450°C, preferably at 340-400°C, even more preferably at
about 360-380°C for about 2-4 hours, preferably 3
hours, in an atmosphere of superheated steam with a
continuous remixing action.
The gases evolved from this reaction, containing NH3,
HF, H2O, can also be recirculated and reused to fill
the reactor after suitable cooling and absorption in
water to give a concentrated NH4F solution.
Naturally, the materials used in the three ovens must
be such as to withstand the working temperatures and,
in particular, the common presence of hydrofluoric acid
HF in the gaseous phase. Similarly, all of the
elements making up the plant to be used for the process
of the invention must be made of materials which can
withstand the effects of hydrofluoric acid.
Detailed description of the process
Figure 1 is a block diagram which shows the preferred
implementation of the process as a whole.
The reactor (1) is connected to a container (2) for the
ilmenite dust and to a container (3) for the ammonium
fluoride. Also indicated are the outputs of the iron
salt dispersion/titanium salt solution (4), of the
sludges (5), and of the gas (6) from the reactor (1),
as well as an absorber (7) for the ammonia, in which
the aqueous NH4OH solution is produced.

The iron salt dispersion/titanium salt solution (4) is
sent to a first filter (8) with a filtrate output (9)
and a sludge output (10) ; the sludge (10) can be sent
to a second filter (11) with a filtrate output (12) and
a sludge output (13) or directly to the pyrohydrolysis
reactor (30) for producing Fe2O3.
The filtrate (9) , with which the filtrate (12) may be
combined, is sent to the hydrolysis reactor (14); the
stream (15) output from the hydrolysis reactor (14) is
sent to a filter (16) provided with a sludge output
(17) connected to a reactor for solubilizing the
titanium salts (18) which are then recirculated through
the line (19) . The filtrate output from the filter
(16) is sent through the line (20) to the intense
hydrolysis reactor (21), the discharge (22) of which is
connected to a filter (23) by means of which the sludge
containing the mixture of titanium salts and oxides
(NH4)2TiOF4+(NH4)3TiOF5+TiO2 is recovered.
This sludge is sent through the line (24) to a first
pyrohydrolysis reactor (25) which is connected by the
line (26) to a second pyrohydrolysis reactor (27) with
an output (28) communicating with a container (29) for
the storage of the TiO2 powder.
The aqueous NH4OH solution formed in the ammonia
absorber (7) can be sent to the hydrolysis reactors
(14) and (21) through the lines (33) and (33bis) ,
respectively. The solution (34) output from the filter
(23) , containing NH4F, water, and traces of titanium
salts, is sent to the concentration plant (35) and is
then recirculated to the reactor for the solubilization

of the titanium salts (18) and to the ammonium fluoride
container (3) through the lines (36) and (36bis),
respectively.

We Claim:
1. A process for the production of titanium dioxide comprising
the following steps:
(a) a titanium ore containing iron is reacted with an aqueous
NH4F and/or NH4HF2 solution;
(b) the aqueous dispersion thus obtained is filtered with
consequent separation of a solid residue and an aqueous
solution containing titanium salts;
(c) the aqueous solution thus obtained is subjected to
hydrolysis, the hydrolysis comprising a first stage at pH
7.0-8.5 and a second stage at pH 10.0-13.0;
(d) the aqueous dispersion thus obtained is filtered and the
solid residue is subjected to pyrohydrolysis, the
pyrohydrolysis comprising a first stage at a maximum
temperature of 450°C and a second stage at a maximum
temperature of 1000°C.

2. A process as claimed in Claim 1, wherein step (a) is
performed at 100-120°C, preferably about 108°C.
3. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein step (a) is performed at a pressure of about 1-2 bar.
4. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein step (a) is performed at a pH of about 6.5-7.0.
5. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein step (a) has a duration of 40 to 80 minutes.
6. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the aqueous NH4F and/or NH4HF2 solution of step (a) has
a concentration of 30-60% by weight, preferably about 45%.

7. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the filtration of step (b) and/or step (d) is
performed with meshes having 2-3 nm holes, preferably
approximately 2.5 nm holes.
8. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the hydrolysis (c) is performed by the addition of an
ammonium hydroxide solution.
9. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the hydrolysis (c) is performed with stirring, the
first stage at a speed of 40-60 revolutions/ minute,
preferably at about 50 revolutions/minute, the second stage at
about 10 revolutions/minute.

10. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the first stage of the hydrolysis (c) is performed at
a pH of about 7.5-8.0.
11. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the second stage of the hydrolysis (c) is performed at
a pH of about 11-12.
12. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the dispersion obtained from the first stage of the
hydrolysis (c) is filtered to give an aqueous solution
containing the titanium salt (NH4)2TiF6 and having a (NH4)3FeF6
concentration lower than 0.01% by weight, preferably lower
than 0.001%, and a sludge fraction containing ammonium
oxyfluorotitanate and (NH4)3FeF6.
13. A process as claimed in claim 12, wherein said aqueous
solution is subjected to the second stage of the hydrolysis
(c) .

14. A process as claimed in claim 12, wherein said sludge
fraction, upon dissolution, is recirculated in addition to the
output flow from step (a).
15. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the first stage of the pyrohydrolysis (d) is performed
at about 340-400°C.
16. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the first stage of the pyrohydrolysis (d) is performed
at about 360-380°C.
17. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the first stage of the pyrohydrolysis (d) is performed
for 1-3 hours, preferably for about 2 hours.
18. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the second stage of the pyrohydrolysis (d) is
performed at 700-900°C.
19. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the second stage of the pyrohydrolysis (d) is
performed at 750-850°C, preferably at about 800°C.
20. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the second stage of the pyrohydrolysis (d) is
performed for 60-180 minutes, preferably for about 90-120
minutes.
21. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the solid residue of step (b) is subjected to
pyrohydrolysis at a maximum temperature of 450°C, preferably
at 340-400°C.

22. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the solid residue of step (b) is subjected to
pyrohydrolysis at 360-380°C.
23. A process as claimed in Claims 21 and 22, wherein the
pyrohydrolysis is performed for 2-4 hours, preferably for 3
hours.
24. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the titanium ore containing iron is ilmenite,
preferably with an average particle size of 0.05-1.5 mm, even
more preferably of about 0.1 mm.

(54) Title: A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF TITANIUM DIOXIDE USING AQUEOUS FLUORIDE

(57) Abstract: A process is described for the production of titanium dioxide by the treatment with ammonium fluoride of titanium
ores containing iron; the process comprises the following steps : (a) the titanium ore containing iron is reacted with an aqueous
NH4F and/or NH4HF2 solution; (b) the aqueous dispersion thus obtained is filtered with consequent separation of a solid residue
and an aqueous solution containing titanium salts; (c) the aqueous solution thus obtained is subjected to hydrolysis, the hydrolysis
comprising a first stage at pH 7.0-8.5 and a second stage at pH 10.0-13.0; (d) the aqueous dispersion thus obtained is filtered and the
solid residue is subjected to pyrohydrolysis, the pyrohydrolysis comprising a first stage at a maximum temperature of 450 °C and a
second stage at a maximum temperature of 1000 °C.

A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF TITANIUM DIOXIDE USING AQUEOUS FLUORIDE

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