Low cost titanium production by green chemical synthesis routes

摘要

The need for producing high quality titanium is increasing in the US because the annual demand for titanium is approximately 50,000 tons, half of which is imported. Here we propose a green chemical synthesis route for titanium/nano size titanium powders from Ilmenite. Ilmenite leaching with 20% hydrochloric acid followed by sulfuric acid and ammonium sulfate result in titanyl sulfate, which will be pH selectively complexed with catechol or citric acid or gallic acid, followed by filtration, then conversion to titanium hydride using hydrogen, followed by dehydrogenation, yield titanium powder. Although, the titanium catecholate and its conversion of nano size titanium powders were done in our group [1], the reagents used for the reactions were not recovered. This process also involves recovery of acid, ammonia, catechol/gallic acid/citric acid, and hydrogen and will be reused for the reaction. Hence the process is very environmentally friendly, energy efficient and economical. This process can be used to make particles of required sizes by controlling the experimental conditions.