Round and spherical titanium dioxide scouring media and a method for
producing the media are disclosed. The scouring media is effective in
removing titanium dioxide buildup on the walls of a titanium dioxide
reaction vessel. The method consists of forming green titanium dioxide
pellets in a high intensity mixer by mixing commercially available
titanium dioxide dust, water and a surfactant. The high intensity mixer
produces substantially round, and spherical green pellets which are
subsequently sized and sintered in a kiln to form round and spherical
titanium dioxide sintered pellets that are suitable as a scouring media.
The high intensity mixer allows the operator to closely control the size
and shape of the pellets during the forming process to produce
substantially round and spherical green pellets. Because the sintered
titanium dioxide pellets are substantially round and spherical in shape,
they are much less abrasive to the walls of the reaction vessel.
Furthermore, as the pellets themselves abrade away, they do not
contaminate the titanium dioxide product, and they can even be
reprocessed into round and spherical scouring media.