Production of High-Purity TiO2 Powder from FeTiO3 via High-Temperature Sulfurization

The cost of Ti production can be reduced by replacing rutile ore with abundant and cheap ilmenite ore (FeTiO3). However, the conventional processes for Ti production, including the Kroll process, require significant energy and yield a large amount of byproducts. To overcome these environmental challenges, we investigated the effects of the reaction temperature and time on the sulfurization of FeTiO3 by Na2SO4 below 1673 K. Fe-S-C metal and Ti-rich oxysulfide phases were generated, and the metallic phase could be removed from the oxysulfide phase via magnetic separation. With an increase in temperature, the Fe content in the oxysulfide phase decreased, while the Ti content increased. After the sulfurization of FeTiO3 for 1 h at 1673 K, the Fe content in the oxysulfide phase decreased by approximately 4 wt.%. The Ti content in the obtained oxide was determined through a simple cleaning treatment using dilute hydrochloric acid.