Titaniumgewinnung

Titaniumgewinnung refers to the processes involved in extracting titanium from its natural sources. Titanium is a highly reactive metal, making its extraction and purification a complex and energy-intensive undertaking. The primary titanium-bearing minerals are ilmenite (FeTiO3) and rutile (TiO2). These minerals are typically found in placer deposits, often alongside other heavy minerals like zircon and monazite, or in igneous and metamorphic rocks.

The initial step in titaniumgewinnung is the mining of these titanium-rich ores. This can be done through open-pit mining or dredging, depending on the deposit. Once extracted, the ore undergoes beneficiation, a series of physical and chemical processes designed to concentrate the titanium minerals and remove impurities. This often involves crushing, grinding, magnetic separation, gravity separation, and electrostatic separation.

The most common method for producing pure titanium metal from concentrated titanium ores is the Kroll process. This process involves reducing titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4), which is produced by chlorinating titanium dioxide, with a molten salt or a metal like magnesium or sodium. The resulting titanium sponge is then melted and cast into ingots. Alternatively, titanium dioxide, used as a pigment, is produced through the sulfate process or the chloride process, which do not involve producing the metal itself. The extraction and refining of titanium are crucial for its widespread use in aerospace, medical implants, and industrial applications due to its strength, low density, and corrosion resistance.