Titanium dioxide

Titanium dioxide is derived from mineral ilmenite, which also contains iron oxide. The iron content in ilmenite must be removed in order to produce a titanium dioxide feedstock slag of 80 to 95 per cent purity, which manufacturers then further refine to a pigment which is 100 per cent pure titanium dioxide.

Titanium production
Ilmenite is mined either using dry mining or, if the site is near water or under the water table, by using suction dredges floating on artificial ponds.

In dry mining, the area is cleared of vegetation with top soil removed to be used in restoring the area after mining. Scrapers collect and transport the ore to concentrator plants. In dredge mining, ore is extracted from the reserve and pumped to a floating concentrator where it is washed to separate mineral-bearing sands from other material such as clay or quartz.

In concentrator plants, the minerals are separated by magnetic and electrostatic processes, with the ilmenite extracted and smelted to create titanium dioxide feedstock and pig iron.

Uses of titanium dioxide
Titanium dioxide is the world's main white pigment in the coatings and plastics industry. It is very opaque, which is a critical characteristic in paint and other coatings where, for aesthetic reasons, the under surface must be hidden by the paint. Titanium dioxide is also non-toxic and biologically inert, and so is used in food colouring, cosmetics and toothpaste.

Further information about Rio Tinto's titanium operations is available from the QIT-Fer et Titane website.

For more information on our other products, see our corporate fact sheets.