Process for producing ceramic powders, especially titanium dioxide useful as a photocatalyst

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A gas phase process for the production of titanium dioxide powders having wellcontrolled crystalline and surface area characteristics is disclosed. In this process, which is preferably carried out in a laminar diffusion flame reactor vapor phase TiCl4 and oxygen are mixed in a reaction area which is heated externally. The titanium dioxide powder formed is then collected. It is preferred that the heat source used be a hydrocarbon fueled (e.g. methane) flame. Optionally, a vapor phase dopant (such as SiCl4) may be added to the reaction mixture to desirably affect the physical properties of the titanium dioxide produced. In a particularly preferred embodiment a corona electric , field is …