Why are titanium ores chlorinated at temperatures between 850 and 1,000 °C?

In the context of titanium processing, titanium ores are chlorinated at temperatures between 850 and 1,000 °C to facilitate the carbo-chlorination process, which converts titanium dioxide (TiO₂) into gaseous titanium tetrachloride (TiCl₄).1

During this reaction, the oxide ores are reacted with chlorine in a fluidized bed of petroleum coke. The high temperature is necessary to drive the chemical reaction where oxygen from the ore combines with carbon in the coke to produce carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, while the titanium reacts with chlorine to form gaseous TiCl₄. This temperature range is critical because the ratio of the resulting carbon oxides depends on the specific reaction temperature.1

The resulting TiCl₄ is a vital intermediate product, as it can be purified through distillation to remove contaminants, ensuring the production of high-quality titanium metal or pigments. Maintaining these high temperatures is essential for the efficient extraction and separation of titanium from crude ores.12