Single step electrolytic production of titanium

Titanium tetrachloride usually obtained through high temperature chlorinati on of titanium dioxide is used as the raw material for the production of ti tanium sponge by the commercial processes of Kroll and Hunter. An alternate method for the production of titanium sponge has been tried. It is essenti ally an electrochemical dissolution of titanium dioxide-carbon composite an odes and deposition of titanium metal particles over a molten aluminium cat hode. This electrolytic route is relatively inexpensive and reduces hazards due to metal chloride evolution and energy consumption. Present study invo lves preparation and characterization of titanium dioxide-carbon composite anodes and electrolyzing them in molten equimolar NaCl-KCl. Anodic current efficiency of the dissolution of the anodes around 90% and cathodic deposit ion efficiency, by chemical analysis, around 20% are reported.