Use Of West Coast Coal To Make Titanium Oxide?

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28887, 6 May 1959, Page 18

Use Of West Coast Coal To Make Titanium Oxide?

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 5. The production of titanium oxide from West Coast coal would “most certainly” be one of the matters referred to the Coal Utilisation Committee, the DeputyPrime Minister (Mr Skinner) said today. He had been asked if the production of titanium oxide in New Zealand would be an economic proposition. “This was one of the avenues for coal utilisation which I discussed in Holland in December, and since my return I have had further consultations with several prominent New Zealand scientists in an endeavour to gauge the prospects of successfully establishing an industry of this nature,” he said.

“The published report of Messrs D. S. Nicholson, J. J. S. Cornes, of I the Dominion Laboratory and W. R. B. Martin of Victoria University, in the “Journal of Geology and Geophysics” of November, 1958, shows that adequate supplied of ilmenite are available on the West Coast, the most prominent location being a few miles from Westport. “Discussions I have had with scientists over the last few months indicate the ilmenite concentrate after separation from the sand could be reduced in a rotary kiln with char from a low temperature carbonisation process, the product crushed, and the iron and titanium oxide separated by electro-magnetic means. “The titanium* oxide is used as a pigment in paints and the iron could be sold as briquettes to a scrap melting plant. «“New Zealand's present importation of titanium oxide is about 3000 tons a year. The

opinions I have received on the capital cost of the plant indicate this would be relatively low, although this aspect would have to be fully examined by the Coal Utilisation Committee. “The minimum economic unit is considered to be one producing about 10,000 tons annually and an industry producing this quantity would consume 25,000 tons of ilmenite concentrate and 12,000 tons of coal. The production of iron would be about 7000 tons a year. “One of the difficulties would be finding an export outlet since titanium oxide is produced quite cheaply in some other countries.” Mr Skinner said there were several other specific propositions for coal utilisation which would be placed before the committee. Among the more important were the production of fertilisers and the economics of a briquetting plant. He said he was at present having discussions with scientists and Government technical officers on these matters.