Aspects of the chemistry of titanium dioxide in fused salt solvents

An investigation into the chemistry of solutions of titanium dioxide in fused alkali metal borates has been made, with the emphasis on the ability of the alkali borate melts to dissolve TiO2 and subsequently crystallize TiO2 and/or complex alkali metal titanates. The preparation and properties of potassium titanates with K2O/TiO2 mol ratio ≤1 has been studied. In addition the thermal decomposition of potassium hexafluorotitanate monohydrate (reported to yield potassium tetratitanate) has been investigated. The decomposition product has been identified as an oxyfluorotitanate. The compounds crystallized on slow cooling of alkali borate + TiO2 melts have been identified. The titanium containing product(s) have been correlated with the concentration of borate groups containing non-bridging oxygens, which depends on the alkali metal cation. Phase diagrams for the M2O.B2O3 + TiO2 (M = Na, K) systems have been obtained. Mass transport in M2O.2B2O3 + TiO2 (M = Li, Na, K) systems has been studied, via measurements of electrical conductivity, as a function of temperature and TiO2 concentration. Additional information on the alkali borate melts has been obtained from measurements of the optical basicity of M2O + B2O3 (M = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs) glasses, using Pb(II) as probe ion. The results of these measurements have confirmed that the nature of the alkali metal cation significantly affects the basicity of fused alkali borate solvents. Extraction of TiO2 from ilmenite and titaniferous slag, using selected low-basicity alkali borate solvents has been attempted. The results indicate that TiO2 may be separated from ilmenite in essentially a one-step process.

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemistry

Grantor dc:publisher

ResearchSpace@Auckland

Year dc:date.issued

1973

Author dc:creator

• Udy, David John

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Dr Allan Esteal

Statement dc:rights

• Items in ResearchSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htm

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2292/2147

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:researchspace.auckland.ac.nz:2292/2147