Author(s):
1. Duško Kostić, Univerzitet u Istočnom Sarajevu, Tehnološki fakultet Zvornik, Karakaj 34A, , Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
2. Mitar Perušić, Univerzitet u Istočnom Sarajevu, Tehnološki fakultet Zvornik, Karakaj 34A, 75400 Zvornik, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
3. Srećko Stopić, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
4. Nebojša Vasiljević, Faculty of Technology - University of East Sarajevo, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
5. Jelena Vuković, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
6. Vladimir Damjanovic, Alumina doo, , Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
7. Radislav Filipovic, Faculty of Technology - University of East Sarajevo, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
8. Svetlana Pelemiš, Faculty of Technology - University of East Sarajevo, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract:
Tionite residue, generated as a by-product in titanium dioxide production, represents a potentially valuable secondary source of titanium. However, its direct hydrometallurgical processing is limited due to the presence of titanium mainly in the form of TiO2 with a rutile structure, which is highly stable and poorly soluble under conventional leaching conditions. Therefore, this study investigates the possibility of thermal treatment of tionite with sodium carbonate, with the addition of sodium chloride as a fluxing agent, in order to obtain a structure more suitable for subsequent leaching and titanium extraction. The treatment was carried out at 900 °C. The presence of Na2CO3 is expected to promote alkaline activation of the stable rutile phase, while NaCl contributes to improved reaction conditions during roasting. In this way, tionite can be transformed into a more reactive form, which may represent an important step in the development of a sustainable process for the valorization of this industrial residue. The significance of this approach lies in the use of secondary raw materials for the production of titanium compounds, contributing to waste reduction and more efficient management of critical raw materials. This research was conducted as part of the EUROTITAN project, focused on the development of new routes for obtaining titanium and titanium compounds from secondary sources.

Key words:
: tionite,titanium dioxide,rutile,alkaline roasting,sodium carbonate,tionite

Thematic field:
SYMPOSIUM A - Science of matter, condensed matter and physics of solid states

Date of abstract submission:
13.07.2026.

Conference:
Contemporary Materials 2026 - Savremeni Materijali

Applied paper from author