Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a bulk commodity, which is used as a white pigment, e.g. for paints, plastics, paper and rubber. TiO2 pigment is produced by two major industrial routes from its ore, which is either ilmenite (ferrous titanate) or either natural or synthetic rutile. Ilmenite-based raw materials are used for the wet sulphuric acid process, while rutile is the major input for the high-temperature chloride process. After years of development, both manufacturing processes remain in extensive use and represent both economically effective and environmentally sound industrial practice. In the following examples, the combined reaction rate–multiphase calculation has been applied to two characteristic unit processes of TiO2 production.
Food Application:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration stipulates that titanium dioxide can be used as all food white pigments, and the maximum usage amount is 1g/kg. Pigment additive titanium dioxide can be safely used in general coloring foods, subject to the following regulations:
(1) The amount of titanium dioxide shall not exceed 1% by weight of the food.
(2) Colored food that shall not be used in accordance with the special standards published in Section 401 of the Act, unless there is a similar standard that allows the addition of coloring.
(3) For colored food, the edible pigment additive titanium dioxide may contain an appropriate diluent as a safe pigment additive, as follows: silicon dioxide, as a dispersing aid, the content shall not exceed 2%.
Product adaptation: preserved fruit, jelly, fried food, cocoa products, chocolate, chocolate products, hard candy, polished candy, gum-based candy, puffed food, coating of candy and chocolate products, mayonnaise, salad dressing, jam, solid Beverages, konjac gel food, etc.
