- The Resurgence of Lithopone Manufacturing
- China, as the world's most populous country and second-largest economy, plays a significant role in the global production and consumption of titanium dioxide (TiO2), a crucial pigment used extensively in various industries, including paints, plastics, and cosmetics. The country is not only the largest producer but also a major exporter of TiO2, contributing significantly to the global market.
- Advanced Oxidation Protein Products


The National Cancer Institute tested TiO2 for possible carcinogenicity by the oral route of exposure by feeding rats and mice with TiO2 (size not specified) at doses 25,000 or 50,000 ppm TiO2 for 103 weeks. They concluded that TiO2 was not carcinogenic.Also, the study with rats fed diets containing up to 5 % TiO2 coated mica for 130 weeks showed no treatment-related carcinogenicity. Since the size and other TiO2 properties were not specified or determined, we cannot generalize this conclusion and we have to take into account other possible outcomes of this scenario in different exposure conditions (other size/crystalline structure of TiO2 etc.).
Health Canada's Food Directorate recently completed a “state of the science” report on titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a food additive. Food-grade TiO2 is a white powder made up of small particles that has been permitted in Canada and internationally for many years as a food additive to whiten or brighten foods. Food-grade TiO2 has long been considered safe in Canada and in other countries when eaten as part of the diet.

The year 2016 had shown a strong rebound of China’s TiO2 business in general, according to market intelligence firm CCM. The market situation in 2015 was quite depressed, while in 2016 huge price rises have benefited the financial performance of China’s manufacturers.
With the increasing demand for titanium dioxide in various industries, the search for reliable suppliers has become crucial. Among the numerous suppliers in the market, r 996 titanium dioxide suppliers have emerged as one of the leading suppliers in the industry.
Application:
1. Due to its rheological and optical properties, Lithopone offers technical and economic advantages wherever organic and inorganic resin systems need to be relatively highly pigmented for specific applications. Lithopone has therefore traditionally been used in putties, mastics, jointing and sealing compounds, primers, undercoats and marking paints. In powder coatings it is possible to replace TiO2 partially, very economically.
2. The low Mohs' hardness of Lithopone leads to low abrasiveness in comparison with TiO2.
3. Lithopone 30 % (= 30% zinc sulfide share) is proven to be of particular use as a TiO2 Substitute in thermoplastic masterbatches. Even at very high pigment loadings it disperses easily. A masterbatch containing 50 % TiO2 and 25 % Lithopone 30 % DS has the same hiding power as one containing 60 %TiO2. Cost savings are strongly related to the price ratio of Lithopone and TiO2 and the price of for example polyethylene or polypropylene.
4. The Lithopone batch has a much higher extrusion rate too. Furthermore the impact strength of many thermoplastics such as PP and ABS can be noticeably improved by using Lithopone as a TiO2 substitute. Generally spoken, Lithopone can be used at loadings up to 80 % by weight without causing polymer breakdown
Lithopone B311
Where It’s Hiding
However, the market could not sustain these high prices and strived for equilibrium, causing the prices to fall. Further, after the complete removal of restrictions, the factories churned out products at a much faster pace than the market offtakes. Hence, the manufacturers reduced their quotations to maintain positive product movement in the market. The spot prices of titanium dioxide averaged around 2264 USD/MT in June’23 in the Chinese market.
The most common foods containing titanium dioxide are chewing gum, candies, pastries, chocolates, coffee creamers, and cake decorations (1Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source).
In sunscreen, titanium dioxide is used as a barrier to keep the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays from damaging your skin. It's processed into much smaller particles than what goes into food, called nanoparticles. In this form, it becomes transparent, and also absorbs UV light so it doesn't reach your skin.
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Currently, titanium dioxide as a food additive is classified as GRAS, or “generally recognized as safe.”

Regarding flavoring substances, JECFA concluded that there is no safety concern and established specifications for 21 agents across three classes: aliphatic primary alcohols, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, acetals, and esters containing additional oxygenated functional groups; linear and branched-chain aliphatic, unsaturated and unconjugated alcohols, aldehydes, acids, and related esters; and saturated aliphatic acyclic linear primary alcohols, aldehydes, and acids.