suspended ceiling grid types

Various titanium-rich minerals, including ilmenite and rutile, can serve as starting materials for the production of highly purified Titanium Dioxide. The predominant method employed in Titanium Dioxide production is the chloride process. In this process, the mineral, along with coke and chlorine, undergoes a reaction within a fluidized bed, resulting in the formation of primarily titanium tetrachloride and carbon dioxide. Subsequently, the titanium tetrachloride undergoes purification and conversion to Titanium Dioxide. Another method involves treating ilmenite with sulfuric acid to manufacture the chemical.

In 2021, the European Food Safety Authority concluded that titanium dioxide is no longer safe in foods due to the same concerns over nanoparticles. As a result, titanium dioxide is now banned as a food additive in the EU. Although studies have shown that the absorption of ingested titanium dioxide is low, evidence suggests that titanium dioxide nanoparticles can accumulate in the body over time. Health Canada deemed it safe in 2022 but noted concerns. Unlike their European counterparts, Canadian officials did not consider studies performed with titanium dioxide nanoparticles alone. 

Duan et al. administered 125 mg/kg BW or 250 mg/kg BW of anatase TiO₂ (5 nm) intragastrically to mice continuously for 30 days. The exposed mice lost body weight, whereas the relative liver, kidney, spleen and thymus weights increased. Particles seriously affected the haemostasis of the blood and the immune system. The decrease in the immune response could be the result of damage to the spleen, which is the largest immune organ in animals and plays an important role in the immune response. Powel et al. demonstrated that TiO₂ NPs may trigger immune reactions of the intestine after oral intake. They showed that TiO₂ NPs conjugated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide, but not TiO₂ NPs or lipopolysaccharide alone, trigger the immune response in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in isolated intestinal tissue. This indicates that TiO₂ NPs may be important mediators in overcoming normal gut-cell hyporesponsiveness to endogenous luminal molecules, which may be particularly relevant to patients with inflammatory bowel disease, which is characterized by an abnormal intestinal permeability.

The MBR9668 coating offers a range of advantages for manufacturers in the coatings industry. Primarily, its high hiding power allows for the efficient application of thinner layers, reducing material consumption and operational costs. This cost efficiency does not come at the expense of quality; the coating ensures a uniform finish with excellent opacity and gloss. Furthermore, the durability imparted by MBR9668 means that coatings will not only maintain their aesthetic appeal but also resist environmental stresses such as weathering, moisture, and chemical exposure.

Apart from the cosmetics industry, the coatings and plastics industry is also expected to contribute significantly to the growth of titanium dioxide in 2023. Coatings made from titanium dioxide offer excellent hiding power, durability and weather resistance, making them ideal for outdoor applications. Demand for high-quality coatings is expected to surge as the construction and automotive industries expand. Titanium dioxide is at the forefront of providing aesthetic and protective coatings, making it an indispensable ingredient in the industry.

But this is just the tip of the ice berg so many articles & studies are coming out challenging the safety of Titanium Dioxide in our food supply & personal care products.

Fig. 4. Hemolysis (%) values of samples, A: 0.2 mg/mL P25TiO₂NPs; B: 0.02 mg/mL P25TiO₂NPs; C: 0.2 mg/mL VitaminB2@P25TiO₂NPs; D: 0.02 mg/mL VitaminB2@P25TiO₂NPs after 3 h of irradiation (red) and 6 h (blue). SD <5 for all samples and p <0.05 between C-D and A-B.

The CaCO3 and TiO2 factory plays a crucial role in producing these materials on a large scale to meet the growing demand from various industries. The factory utilizes advanced technology and processes to extract and refine CaCO3 and TiO2 from natural resources such as limestone and mineral sands. The production process involves crushing, grinding, and chemical treatment to obtain the desired properties of CaCO3 and TiO2.

Relative to a lot of other things that people should be concerned about, titanium dioxide in my mind, is really low on the list. I would be more worried about some substitutes that people are using for titanium dioxide that don't have decades of research associated with it, said Westerhoff.