Carbochlorination kinetics of titanium dioxide with carbon and carbon monoxide as reductant

Kinetic study of the chlorination of titanium dioxide (rutile and anatase) was carried out in a fixedbed reactor at temperature ranging from 800 °C to 1000 °C and normal pressure. In our experiment, titanium dioxide powder and gaseous chlorine with carbon or carbon monoxide as reductant were used. The products of the reaction are all in gaseous phase under the temperatures and pressure studied. With CO as reductant, reaction is of noncatalytic gas-solid nature and experimental data fit the shrinking core model. When using C as reductant, solid-solid reaction is involved. Reactivity is highly enhanced by solid carbon and it is concluded that an activated C-TiO₂-Cl complex contributes to the enhanced reactivity. A reaction model based on phase boundary control applies to the experimental data. Thermodynamic analysis supports the experimental observation.