The determination of Ti 2 O 3 in titania slags: a comparison of different methods of analysis

Abstract

Nine titania slags, consisting mostly of ferropseudobrookite (denoted as M₃O₅), were investigated with the aim of evaluating various methods to estimate their Ti₂O₃ content. Direct methods include the determination of the Ti³⁺ content using chemical titration and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at the Ti K edge. Indirect determinations of the Ti₂O₃ content are based on the bulk chemical composition analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and the analysis of pseudobrookite cell parameters using X-ray diffraction. It was found that the use of bulk chemistry, the FeO contents, as well as the a unit cell dimensions of the M₃O₅ phase give acceptable estimates, provided that the slags are not oxidised on cooling to room temperature. Only the direct XAS and titration methods determine the actual Ti³⁺ or Ti₂O₃ contents and are not influenced by the degree of oxidation of the slags. The XAS results provide a valuable independent validation of the titration method. It is concluded that the titration method is still the most practical and reliable method for estimating Ti³⁺ contents.

Keywords

TITANIA SLAG ANALYSIS CHEMISTRY TI2O3 X-RAY DIFFRACTION XAS

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