Ilmenite Digestion with Trimethylammonium Hydrogen Oxalate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current processes for producing titanium dioxide from ilmenite are energy-intensive, require high capital investment, and have a significant environmental footprint, limiting their efficiency and sustainability, especially when using low-grade ores.

Innovation Solution

A process involving the digestion of ilmenite ore with aqueous trimethylammonium hydrogen oxalate, followed by separation, hydrolysis, and crystallization steps to produce titanium dioxide, which includes recycling oxalate-containing solutions to reduce costs and environmental impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional processes (sulfate or chloride process) are used to produce TiO2 from ilmenite, then TiO2 can be produced, but the process is energy-intensive and requires high capital investment

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTiO2 production efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the digestion process by using trimethylammonium hydrogen oxalate instead of conventional sulfate or chloride reagents. This parameter change enables lower temperature operation (reducing energy consumption) while maintaining effective TiO2 production from ilmenite ore

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the conventional high-energy mechanical/thermal processing systems with a chemical solution-based approach using trimethylammonium hydrogen oxalate. This substitution allows for milder processing conditions that reduce energy requirements while achieving the same production goal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If conventional processes are used to produce TiO2 from low-grade ores, then TiO2 can be produced, but capital investment is high and environmental footprint is significant

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTiO2 production capabilityVSAvoidcapital investment

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs trimethylammonium hydrogen oxalate as a consumable reagent that can be easily disposed of or degraded, replacing expensive and complex capital-intensive equipment and processes. The chemical reagent serves as a disposable medium that simplifies the overall system requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces trimethylammonium hydrogen oxalate as an intermediary substance that facilitates the extraction of TiO2 from low-grade ores. This intermediary reagent enables the process to work with lower-quality materials while reducing the complexity and capital investment required compared to conventional direct processing methods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If conventional processes are used to produce TiO2 from low-grade ores, then TiO2 can be produced, but environmental footprint is significant

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTiO2 production capabilityVSAvoidenvironmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potentially harmful interaction between processing chemicals and the environment into a beneficial process by using trimethylammonium hydrogen oxalate, which decomposes into harmless substances. This transforms what would normally be an environmentally damaging conventional process into an eco-friendly operation that maintains TiO2 production capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This process enables the production of titanium dioxide from low-grade ilmenite ores with reduced energy consumption, lower capital investment, and a smaller environmental footprint, while maintaining high efficiency and product quality.

Implementation Method 1

digesting ilmenite ore with aqueous trimethylammonium hydrogen oxalate to form a leachate and an iron-rich precipitate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDigestion: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

hydrolyzing said leachate with trimethylamine to form titanyl hydroxide and an oxalate-rich solution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 3

crystallizing titanium dioxide from said low oxalate titanyl hydroxide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCrystallization: Crystallisation

Implementation Method 4

hydrothermally crystallizing said first or second leachate in an autoclave for a period of 1 hour to 24 hours to form titanium dioxide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrothermal crystallization: Crystallisation

Data Source

PatentUS7678350B2Processes for producing titanium dioxide

Publication Date: 2010.03.16 THE CHEMOURS CO FC LLC

AI summary

Provided are processes for the production of titanium dioxide from ilmenite. In these processes, ilmenite is digested with aqueous trimethylammonium hydrogen oxalate. Iron from the ilmenite precipitates as a hydrated iron oxalate and is removed by filtering, leaving a titanium-rich solution. The titanium-rich solution can be further processed to form titanium dioxide.