Titanium-Slag
Titanium Slag comes from ilmenite and is used in the making of plastics, paper, and paint. It has a high titanium dioxide content used to produce pigment.
Titanium slag, or metallurgical coke, is produced in smelter plants where it is tapped from furnaces . It is an upgraded white pigment derived from ilmenite for the making of plastics, paper and paint products. Titanium slag is highly composed of titanium dioxide which is mainly used in the making of TiO2 pigment.
Titanium is Most Commonly Found With Iron
Titanium is an element that is most commonly found with iron within a mineral oxide known as ilmenite, as well as in a less widely available ore known as rutile. Iron ore with a high content of titanium is first processed for its iron content, the material left over is known as slag.
Titanium Slag Replaces Dependence on Natural Ilmenite
Titanium slag is a major source of raw material that is supplied to pigment companies. It comprises around 39 percent of their feedstock that can be compared to 33 percent from natural ilmenite. Titanium slag is used as a replacement of natural rutile in the same way as it is a replacement for synthetic rutile This means the metal and pigment industries around the world no longer have to rely solely on natural minerals. The main advantage in using titanium slag is because of its high titanium content, its low generation of waste, its suitability for use in chloride and sulphate processing and its low chemical cost.
The two Main Processes Used to Produce Titanium Dioxide
There are two commonly used processes used in the manufacturing of titanium dioxide pigment from titanium slag. These processes being the chloride and sulphate processes. Both processes produce the same final result , namely, titanium dioxide pigment anatase grade (TDPAG) and titanium dioxide pigment rutile grade (TDPRG).
One of the most common processes used to create Titanium slag entails the titanium concentrate being processed by means of a closed Electric Arc Furnace (EAF). The titanium slag produced by this means is first cooled before being crushed into a powder. It is then packaged. The by-products from this method of titanium slag production include iron powder and pig iron. The EAF process of producing titanium slag has the advantage of only occupying a small space, despite it being able keep up a high capacity production level producing better grades of titanium. This high quality slag is ideal for TiO2 production as it reduces the need to use concentrated sulphuric acid by a third.
Titanium Slag Remains the Main Source of Titanium Dioxide
Titanium slag is a most important material in the production of many titanium products, particularly white titanium as its high metal content reduces operating as well as capital costs in the production of these materials.
The W.A. Kwinana Plant Produces 60,000 Tonnes of Titanium Dioxide a Year
Iluka and Tronox are the two leading producers of titanium dioxide in Australia. The Tronox Kwinana plant south of Perth in Western Australia processes around 50 percent of the rutile produced at its nearby Chandala plant. The Kwinana plant produces around 60,000 tonnes of titanium dioxide a year.
Australian Mines that produce Bauxite
Gove (NT)
Up to 600 workers employed at the Gove bauxite refinery in the Northern Territory face an uncertain future as Pacific Aluminium suspends alumina production.
Ely (QLD)
The Ely Alcan Queensland Pty Ltd agreement at the Weipa bauxite mine is due to expire in 2041 but an option will give it a further 21 years extension.
Skardon River (QLD)
Gulf Alumina acquired 100 percent of the Skardon River tenement in 2011 from its koalin mining joint partner to develop the mining of bauxite at the site
Weipa (QLD)
The Weipa bauxite mine on the western side of the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland is both owned and operated by Rio Tinto Alcan.
Huntly (WA)
The Huntly mine in Western Australia is the largest bauxite mine in the world currently producing about 23 million tonnes of bauxite annually.
Willowdale (WA)
The Willowdale bauxite mine that commenced production in 1984 still processes 10 million tonnes of bauxite a year at the nearby Wagerup Refinery.
Worsley (WA)
The Worsley bauxite mine and alumina refinery in South West Western Australia employs more than 1,800 people and produces 4.6 million tonnes of alumina annually.
South Aurukun (QLD)
The South Aurukun bauxite tenements on the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland are held by Gulf Alumina.
Marchinbar Island (NSW)
The Marchinbar Island bauxite deposit in far north Northern Territory could be mined to satisfy a growing demand from China in the near future.
Kwinana Refinery (WA)
The Kwinana refinery in WA employs around 1,000 direct employees with 60 percent living in the nearby towns of Rockingham, Cockburn and Kwinana.
Wagerup Refinery (WA)
The Alcoa owned Wagerup alumina refinery in W.A. has received governmental approval to lift alumina production from 2.6 to 2.65 million tonnes annually.
Pinjarra Alumina Refinery (WA)
The Pinjarra alumina refinery, near Mandurah south of Perth, is an important part of Alcoa's three refinery system in Western Australia.
Portland Aluminium Smelter (VIC)
The Portland Aluminium smelter in western Victoria, a joint venture operation between Alcoa, CITIC and Marubeni, caters solely to the Asian market.
Felicitas (WA)
The Felicitas bauxite project in Western Australia contains a bauxite resource of 220 million tonnes that will give it a life of mine of 25 years
South Of Embley (QLD)
Despite Rio Tinto placing its South of Embley bauxite project in Cape York, Queensland, on hold for 18 months it still considers it a 'good project.'
Bauxite Hills (QLD)
The Bauxite Hills Project on the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland is hoping to take advantage of an expected increase in the demand for Alumina.
Bald Hill (TAS)
Australian Bauxite Limited's Bald Hill mine, in Tasmania, is to start production in December, 2014. It is the first new bauxite mine in Australia, for over 35 years.
Urquhart Point (QLD)
The Urquhart Point Heavy Mineral Sands Project in Cape York in Far North Queensland is expected to begin production in mid-2015.
Amrun (QLD)
The Amrun bauxite project in far north Queensland, that was previously known as the 'South of Embley' project has been approved for development and expected to be in production by 2019.
