Production of titania

US7326390B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BHP Billiton Innovation Pty Ltd · AU

Inventors

• Eric Roche · Newcastle, AU
• Alan David Stuart · Newcastle, AU
• Philip Ernest Grazier · Newcastle, AU
• Sarah Nicholson · Ripley, AU

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 15, 2005
• Grant date: Feb 5, 2008
• Expiry date: Dec 22, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P10/20
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A sulfate process for producing titania from titaniferous material is disclosed. The process includes precipitating titanyl sulfate from leach liquors containing acidic solutions of titanyl sulfate. The process is characterised by: (a) multiple stage leaching to produce leach liquors containing acidic solutions of titanyl sulfate; (b) using depleted leach liquor from a titanyl sulfate precipitation reactor in the leach steps; and (c) controlling acid concentration in the leach steps to avoid premature hydrolysis and premature precipitation.