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2292006 
Journal Article 
A sustainable sulfate process to produce TiO2 pigments 
Croce, PS; Mousavi, A 
2013 
Yes 
Environmental Chemistry Letters
ISSN: 1610-3653
EISSN: 1610-3661 
Springer Science & Business Media 
11 
4 
325-328 
WOS:000327327600002 
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a widely used white pigment. TiO2 production in 2006 was about 1,400,000 metric tons in the USA. The two major processes to manufacture TiO2 are the chloride process and the sulfate process. Currently, the TiO2 industry finds the waste generated in the chloride process less than the waste generated in the sulfate process in its present design, despite generating large quantities of process-related carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. As a consequence, the sulfate process appears less economical, notably due to the production of green vitriol, FeSO^sub 4^·7H2O, as a major waste. Here, we describe a more sustainable sulfate process based on an earlier study on thermal decomposition of iron(II) sulfates. In the sustainable sulfate process, FeSO^sub 4^·7H2O waste is used for greener production of sulfuric acid, H2SO^sub 4^, used in turn for the digestion of ilmenite. Theoretical and actual yields of waste byproducts per metric ton of TiO2 produced are used to show the environmental and economic advantages of the sustainable sulfate process.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT] 
Carbon dioxide; Chloride process; Geber; Green; Sulfate process; Sulfuric acid; Titanium dioxide