Chloride process

The chloride process is used to separate titanium from its ores. In this process, the feedstock is treated at 1000 °C with carbon and chlorine gas, giving titanium tetrachloride. Typical is the conversion starting from the ore ilmenite: The chloride process is used to separate titanium from its ores. In this process, the feedstock is treated at 1000 °C with carbon and chlorine gas, giving titanium tetrachloride. Typical is the conversion starting from the ore ilmenite: The process is a variant of a carbothermic reaction, which exploits the reducing power of carbon. Other impurities are converted to the respective chlorides as well but they are less volatile than TiCl4. The titanium tetrachloride is purified by distillation. It can be subsequently oxidized in an oxygen flame or plasma to give the pure titanium dioxide.