Titanium dioxide can form several different shapes, which have different properties. Some shapes can be converted to nanomaterials. Micronized TiO2 (also called “nano” or “nanoparticles”) was introduced in the early 1990s.Nanotechnology and micronization both refer to the practice of creating very small particles sizes of a given material. “Nanoparticles” usually refers to particles smaller than 100 nanometers; a nanometer is 1/1 billionth of a meter. At these small sizes, and at low concentrations, titanium dioxide appears transparent, allowing for effective sunscreens that do not appear white.

In the manufacturing industry, sometimes many products require coloring, and the ideal coloring material is lithopone. This is a product manufactured through chemical methods. It is a mixture of barium sulfate and zinc sulfide. When the product contains more zinc sulfide, its effect will be better, that is, the coloring ability will be more stable. If you want to buy high-quality lithopone, you have to understand its properties and characteristics. Today’s article will give you a detailed understanding of lithopone.

Studies of titanium dioxide as a food additive suggest health dangers

EFSA’s scientific advice will be used by risk managers (the European Commission, Member States) to inform any decisions they take on possible regulatory actions.

Titanium dioxide is an inert earth mineral used as a thickening, opacifying, and sunscreen ingredient in cosmetics. It protects skin from UVA and UVB radiation and is considered non-risky in terms of of skin sensitivity. Because it is gentle, titanium dioxide is a great sunscreen active for sensitive, redness-prone skin. It’s great for use around the eyes, as it is highly unlikely to cause stinging.

Application of Titanium Dioxide 

Prof. Maged Younes, Chair of EFSA’s expert Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF), wrote of the decision: “Taking into account all available scientific studies and data, the Panel concluded that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe as a food additive. A critical element in reaching this conclusion is that we could not exclude genotoxicity concerns after consumption of titanium dioxide particles. After oral ingestion, the absorption of titanium dioxide particles is low, however they can accumulate in the body.”

Permanence and Stability

In vitro, in the hemocytes of the marine mussel Mytilus hemocytes, suspension of TiO₂ NPs (Degussa P25, 10 μg/ml) stimulated immune and inflammatory responses, such as lysozyme release, oxidative burst and nitric oxide production. Vevers and Jha demonstrated the intrinsic genotoxic and cytotoxic potential of TiO₂ NPs on a fish-cell line derived from rainbow-trout gonadal tissue (RTG-2 cells) after 24 h of exposure to 50 μg/ml. Reeves et al. demonstrated a significant increase in the level of oxidative DNA damage in goldfish cells, and suggested that damage could not repaired by DNA repair mechanisms. Another suggestion from the mentioned study was that hydroxyl radicals are generated also in the absence of UV light. It has been shown that fish cells are generally more susceptible to toxic/oxidative injury than mammalian cells.

Notes on contributors

Following a request for assessment in 2020 by the EU, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assessed E171, particularly for its genotoxicity. In 2022, the agency deemed the food additive no longer safe for use.  

Demand in the European region has been significantly boosted by higher offtakes in the furniture, building, and industrial sectors compared to Q2, after a boost in containment measures. DIY activities increased significantly as people engaged in more home renovation and building tasks during the extended period of lockdown. With the restart of Chinese shipments in the latter half of Q2 2020, supply has also remained plentiful.

The brands of lithopone of the normal class, that of chemical manufacture, are marketed under such names as Ponolith, Beckton White, Jersey Lily White, Oleum White, Zinc Sulphide White, all of these being of domestic manufacture, and their composition is of the 30 per cent. zinc sulphide type. The German manufacturers and exporters of lithopone make use of fancy names for their brands and here are a few examples of these and the composition of the pigment:-

Titanium dioxide in sunscreen

China is at the forefront of the titanium dioxide industry, with manufacturers like Lomon producing high-quality products such as R996 grade titanium dioxide for the paint industry. Titanium dioxide is a crucial ingredient in paint production, as it provides opacity, brightness, and UV protection to the finished product.

Titanium Dioxide Price Trends for the First Half of 2023

BaS+ZnSO4→ZnS·BaSO4

The reaction liquid is filtered through plate and frame pressure to obtain lithopone in the form of a filter cake with a moisture content of no more than 45%. It is then roasted in a drying furnace to change the crystal form of lithopone, and is then pickled with sulfuric acid at a temperature of 80°C. Finally, it is washed with water, reinforced with colorants, filtered, dried and ground into powder.

Lithopone was discovered in the 1870s by DuPont. It was manufactured by Krebs Pigments and Chemical Company and other companies. The material came in different seals, which varied in the content of zinc sulfide. Gold seal and Bronze seals contain 40-50% zinc sulfide, offering more hiding power and strength. Although its popularity peaked around 1920, approximately 223,352 tons were produced in 1990. It is mainly used in paints, putty, and in plastics.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a fine white powder or dust that occurs naturally. It was first intentionally produced for use as a white pigment in 1923.