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Sample report for adhesive category. Other reports may vary in format.
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| MSAR 2005 Appendix 1 - Titanium Industry - Introduction
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The Titanium industry - an Introduction
Extracts from Mineral Sands Annual Review 2005
The mineral sands industry is oriented principally towards the supply of titanium (Ti) raw materials (titanium feedstocks), for the production of titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment and titanium metal. The other major product of the industry is zircon, which most producers consider a co-product of their titanium mineral production.
The term "mineral sands" normally refers to concentrations of heavy minerals in an alluvial (old beach or river system) environment. In some instances these deposits are referred to as "beach sands". However, when considering the industry as a whole, it is normal to include all the producers of titanium raw materials, which encompasses operations based on the mining and processing of primary "hard rock" deposits of ilmenite. Such deposits are clearly not "mineral sands", but products from these deposits compete directly with mineral sands products and for this Review they are considered as part of that industry.
There are two alternative process technologies for the production of titanium dioxide pigment: the sulfate process, involving digestion of the ore in sulfuric acid; and the chloride process, which is based on chlorination in fluidised bed reactors. In addition to the totally different chemistry, the two processes use different raw materials and produce different quantities and types of waste products. The sulfate process can produce either the rutile or the anatase form of TiO2, while the chloride process will result only in rutile grade pigment.
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Titanium feedstock production
Pigment production
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