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Titanium dioxide is typically made through the following processes:
1. Ore Mining and Concentration: Titanium dioxide is generally derived from ilmenite ore, which are heavy sand deposits rich in titanium.
2. Reduction of Ilmenite: The ilmenite is smelted in an electric furnace where it is reduced with carbon to titanium tetrachloride.
3. Purification of Titanium Tetrachloride: The titanium tetrachloride is subjected to fractional distillation to remove any impurities.
4. Oxidization: The pure titanium tetrachloride is then oxidized to create titanium dioxide. This is often done using one of two methods:
a. The Chloride Process: Here, the titanium tetrachloride is vaporized and then reacted with oxygen at high temperatures to create titanium dioxide.
b. The Sulfate Process: The ilmenite is treated with sulfuric acid to produce a solution of titanium sulfate. The solution is then heated, and after several stages including hydrolysis and calcination, titanium dioxide is formed.
Details of these processes may vary, and different techniques may be used based upon factors such as the specific combination of minerals in the ore deposit, environmental standards, and cost considerations.
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