Nitrogen-free process for chloride-route tio_pigment manufacture

Abstract From the Canadian patent

The invention is concerned with a substantially nitrogen-free process for chloride-route TiO2 pigment manufacture in which a TiO2-containing feedstock is subjected to a fluidized-bed, high temperature carbochlorination in a chlorinator to produce TiCl4 which is thereafter converted to TiO2 by oxidation. The TiO2-containing feedstock and a solid carbonaceous reducing agent are fed to the chlorinator under a CO2 blanketing atmosphere such that the carbochlorination is carried out in a substantially nitrogen-free atmosphere containing CO2 and a CO2-rich flue gas is generated, the CO2 in the chlorinator assisting in controlling thermal balance of the carbochlorination reaction. The absence of …