Patent ID: 8273322

Claim:
A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material comprising: (a) leaching solid titaniferous material with a leach solution containing sulfuric acid and forming a process solution that includes an acidic solution of titanyl sulfate (TiOSO 4 ) and iron sulfate (FeSO 4 ); (b) separating the process solution and a residual solid phase from the leach step (a); (c) precipitating titanyl sulfate from the process solution from step (b); (d) separating the precipitated titanyl sulfate from the process solution; (e) treating the precipitated titanyl sulfate and producing a solution containing titanyl sulfate; (f) hydrolysing the titanyl sulfate in the solution and forming a solid phase containing hydrated titanium oxides and a liquid phase; (g) separating the solid phase containing hydrated titanium oxides and the liquid phase; and (h) calcining the solid phase from step (g) and forming titania; wherein the titanyl sulfate precipitation step (c) includes subjecting the precipitated titanyl sulfate to a shearing action during the course of precipitating titanyl sulfate from the process solution or after precipitation has been completed to cause the precipitated titanyl sulfate to be in the form of elongate members with an aspect ratio of less than 100:1.