Flowsheet to Produce High-Purity TiO₂
Empire Metals Limited has completed an integrated metallurgical processing flowsheet for its Pitfield Titanium Project in Western Australia, designed to produce a premium 99%+ TiO₂ pigment. The company announced the development on 11th June 2026.
The flowsheet, which uses conventional processing technology, benefits from Pitfield's mineralogical advantages and proximity to existing infrastructure, offering a competitive cost structure. It also has the capability to produce titanium metal feedstock and a high-grade alumina co-product.
Empire Metals highlighted that the Pitfield project holds a cost advantage over conventional ilmenite sulphate routes due to its mineralogical characteristics and processing efficiencies. These include lower acid consumption, reduced leach temperatures, and a smaller iron residue stream.
Shaun Bunn, Managing Director of Empire Metals, stated, "The development of a fully integrated processing flowsheet utilising conventional beneficiation, leaching and refining processes to produce a high-grade (99.25% TiO₂) product represents a defining moment in the development of the Pitfield Titanium Project."
Key Technical Advancements
The project features whole-of-ore flotation to recover titanium minerals selectively, with a 98% titanium extraction rate achieved via an acid bake-water leach process. A high-grade alumina (98.7% Al₂O₃) is produced from the pre-leach solution.
Empire Metals plans to commence continuous metallurgical piloting in the third quarter of 2026 to validate design criteria and produce product samples for potential customers and offtake partners.
The company has commissioned a research programme at Murdoch University's Extractive Metallurgy Hub to explore producing titanium metal directly from Pitfield’s TiO₂ product via molten salt electrolysis.
The Pitfield project is positioned to provide a significant Western source of TiO₂ rutile pigment and titanium sponge metal feedstock, distinct from current global production dominated by energy-intensive ilmenite sources.
Pitfield's flowsheet was built entirely on proven, conventional processing steps, which materially de-risk the scale-up and feasibility. Meanwhile, continuous piloting aims to confirm design criteria before the feasibility studies.
Empire Metals' flowsheet offers the optionality to produce titanium metal feedstock and a high-grade alumina co-product, which enhances the economic potential of the Pitfield project.
