additives feature | Titanium dioxide
Argex is scaling up its solvent extraction technology to remove
impurities from TiO2
tonnes/year unit is expected to be commissioned by mid-2016 with the first material ready to sell by the end of 2016. Argex uses solvent extraction (SX) technology to
remove impurities and provide TiO2 with high batch-to-
batch consistency of optical properties. The process is designed to obtain a particle size and morphology for optimal opacity and colour tone, with an optimized particle size and size distribution, explains Philippe Guillemaille, head of sales and marketing for Argex Titanium. Leaching the ore with hydrochloric acid (not sulphuric acid) and Argex’s two solvent extraction steps help to remove contaminants that can create a yellow- ish tone, he explains.
Feedstock flexibility An advantage of the Argex Technology (AT) is that the process can use a wider range of feedstock (such as ilmenite), with no limitation regarding TiO2
content.
“This gives to us larger feedstock availability at a better price and enables us to deliver a competitive pigment with optical properties similar to the pigments pro- duced by the chloride process,” says Guillemaille. Additionally, the process operates at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. This increases safety for both employees and the environment, reduces operating costs, and allows better control of the process. “The environment is today a real concern for all players, from TiO2 the greenest TiO2
producers to final consumers. As process, the AT process shows better
efficiency in term of energy, raw material, by-products and more,” adds Guillemaille. Argex is developing RGX220, a high durability grade designed for plastics. The company also plans to develop a durable grade dedicated to masterbatches by using the particle surface treatment to optimize dispersibility at a high concentration. “Our objective is to build a partnership with a masterbatch producer in
24 COMPOUNDING WORLD | October 2014
early 2015,” notes Guillemaille. At the upcoming AMI Thermoplastics Concentrates conference in January 2015, Guillemaille will further discuss how the charac- teristics of the SX technology impact pigment quality and how the efficiency of the AT process benefits the environment. Argex recently announced a long-term marketing
and supply agreement with the US subsidiary of Germany-based Helm, for distribution of TiO2
in the US and Canada. Helm US will exclusively market and
distribute 50% (up to 25,000 tonnes/year), of TiO2 produced at Valleyfied. The agreement is for a period of seven years, commencing when the plant reaches a certain capacity which is currently expected to take place in the first quarter of 2017.
More information AMI’s Thermoplastic Concentrates 2015 conference takes place on 27-29 January in Coral Springs, Florida, USA. The programme has recently been published and features an impressive line up of pigment suppliers, masterbatch makers and end users. For details visit:
http://bit.ly/ThermConc. Masterbatch Asia returns to Singapore on 9-11
march, while Cologne in Germany will be the location for the Masterbatch 2015 conference on 9-11 June. For more information on these events, visit:
www.amiconferences.com
Click on the links for more information: ❙
www.argex.ca ❙
www.billionschem.com ❙
www.cristalglobal.com ❙
www.dupont.com ❙
www.helmus.com ❙
www.huntsman.com ❙
www.kronostio2.com ❙
www.sachtleben.de
www.compoundingworld.com
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