When purchasing high-purity metatitanic acid filter cake for titanium dioxide production, buyers should evaluate more than TiO₂ content alone.
The most relevant parameters include:
- TiO₂ content
- Matter volatile at 105°C
- Sulfate content
- Fe, Al, Si, K, and Ca
- pH
- Packaging and storage requirements
- Batch-to-batch specification consistency
Inter-China Chemical’s current Metatitanic Acid Filter Cake specification lists 50.2% TiO₂, 42.5% matter volatile at 105°C, 7.0% SO₄²⁻, pH 2.4, together with controlled trace-metal levels. The product is specifically listed for high-purity titanium dioxide production, as well as titanium chemical processing, advanced ceramic materials, and functional titanium materials.
For industrial buyers, the key question is not simply whether the material contains enough titanium. It is whether its overall chemical profile is sufficiently controlled for the downstream titanium process.
What Is Metatitanic Acid Filter Cake?
Metatitanic acid filter cake is a hydrated titanium oxide intermediate.
According to Inter-China Chemical’s current TDS, the material is produced through the sulfate process and is characterized by high chemical purity and controlled impurity levels. The TDS identifies it as an intermediate raw material for producing high-purity titanium dioxide and other advanced titanium compounds.
Unlike a dried titanium precursor powder, filter cake retains a relatively high volatile fraction. This physical and chemical form makes it particularly relevant to customers whose downstream processes can accept a hydrated titanium intermediate directly.
For procurement teams, therefore, filter cake should not be evaluated as though it were finished TiO₂.
It is a process intermediate, and its value depends on how effectively it integrates into the customer’s next manufacturing step.
Current Metatitanic Acid Filter Cake Specification
According to the Inter-China Chemical TDS, Version 1.0/2026:
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| TiO₂ Content | 50.2% |
| Matter Volatile at 105°C | 42.5% |
| SO₄²⁻ | 7.0% |
| Fe | 0.0003% |
| Al | 0.0029% |
| Si | Not detected |
| K | 0.0037% |
| Ca | 0.0061% |
| pH | 2.4 |
| Packaging | 500 kg/bag, 1000 kg/bag |
The TDS lists applications including high-purity titanium dioxide production, titanium chemical processing, advanced ceramic materials, and functional titanium materials.
These numbers provide the starting point for a technical purchasing evaluation.
1. TiO₂ Content: Start with the Titanium Basis
The first parameter most buyers look at is:
TiO₂ Content: 50.2%
For metatitanic acid filter cake, this number represents the titanium content expressed on a TiO₂-equivalent basis.
It should not be interpreted as meaning the supplied filter cake is 50.2% finished titanium dioxide product.
Metatitanic acid filter cake is hydrated and contains a substantial volatile fraction, so its gross weight includes both titanium-containing solids and volatile components.
Why TiO₂ content matters to buyers
TiO₂ content is central to:
- Raw-material mass balance
- Titanium input calculations
- Process yield calculations
- Feed-rate planning
- Procurement comparison between lots or suppliers
If a downstream plant purchases material by tonnage, the effective titanium input depends directly on the actual TiO₂ content of the supplied filter cake.
A stable titanium basis therefore supports more predictable production planning.
2. Matter Volatile at 105°C: Do Not Treat Filter Cake Like Dry Powder
The filter cake TDS specifies:
Matter Volatile at 105°C: 42.5%
This is one of the most important distinctions between filter cake and a dried powder product.
The figure should also be interpreted according to the terminology on the TDS: “Matter Volatile at 105°C”, rather than automatically being renamed simply as “water content.”
For buyers, this parameter matters because the supplied material contains a substantial volatile fraction.
What does this mean commercially and operationally?
A higher volatile fraction means that:
- Gross delivered tonnage is not the same as dry titanium-containing solids
- Material balance should be calculated from the TiO₂ specification
- Storage and handling should be designed for a hydrated material
- Downstream users should confirm that their process is designed to accept filter cake directly
This is especially important when comparing prices.
A buyer should not compare USD/ton of filter cake directly with USD/ton of a higher-solids powder without accounting for differences in actual titanium content.
That is an easy procurement trap. 😏
3. Sulfate Content: Evaluate It as Part of the Process Chemistry
The current specification states:
SO₄²⁻: 7.0%
The TDS describes the filter cake as being produced through the sulfate process, so sulfate is an explicit part of the product specification rather than an undisclosed impurity.
For buyers, the correct evaluation is therefore not:
“Does the material contain sulfate?”
but:
“Is the specified sulfate level compatible with our downstream process?”
That distinction matters.
What should buyers confirm?
Technical teams should determine whether their production route has:
- A defined sulfate acceptance range
- Additional washing requirements
- Internal sulfate specifications
- Final-product limits that could make sulfate control important
The current Inter-China Chemical TDS provides a defined value of 7.0% SO₄²⁻, giving users a known basis for process evaluation.
4. Trace Metals: Small Numbers Can Become Big Purchasing Questions
For high-purity titanium dioxide production, trace-metal specifications deserve close attention.
The current filter cake specification includes:
| Element | Specification |
|---|---|
| Fe | 0.0003% |
| Al | 0.0029% |
| Si | Not detected |
| K | 0.0037% |
| Ca | 0.0061% |
The important point for purchasing teams is that “high purity” should not be evaluated through one headline number alone.
A precursor can meet its TiO₂ target while still being unsuitable for a particular downstream application if certain trace elements exceed the customer’s internal requirements.
5. Iron: One of the First Trace Elements to Check
The TDS specifies:
Fe: 0.0003%
This is approximately 3 ppm by mass.
For buyers seeking high-purity titanium intermediates, Fe should be reviewed as part of the overall impurity profile.
The practical procurement question is:
Does the incoming-material Fe specification provide enough margin for the customer’s final-product requirement?
That question becomes increasingly important as the final TiO₂ or titanium compound moves into more demanding purity categories.
6. Aluminum, Potassium, and Calcium Should Be Reviewed Together
The filter cake specification lists:
- Al: 0.0029%
- K: 0.0037%
- Ca: 0.0061%
Rather than reviewing these numbers independently, buyers should build an incoming impurity budget.
This means determining:
- Which impurities matter to the final product
- How much impurity can enter from the titanium precursor
- How much may enter from other process chemicals or equipment
- What final impurity level must ultimately be achieved
This approach is much more useful than simply asking suppliers for a generic “purity percentage.”
7. “Si: Not Detected” — Ask What It Means for Your QC Standard
The TDS states:
Si: Not detected
For technical procurement, “not detected” should be treated differently from a numerical zero.
It means the result was below the detection capability associated with the analytical method used.
For applications with particularly stringent silicon requirements, buyers may therefore want to align supplier and customer analytical methods during qualification.
This is a broader purchasing principle:
The specification value and the test method used to establish that value should be understood together.
8. pH: A Small Specification with Practical Process Relevance
The filter cake specification gives:
pH: 2.4
This indicates the acidic character of the supplied material under the relevant test conditions.
For customers using the material in further chemical processing, pH is worth monitoring because it provides another indicator of the chemical state of the supplied filter cake.
A stable pH specification can also help customers evaluate whether incoming batches remain chemically consistent.
For procurement teams, this is another reason why acceptance criteria should extend beyond TiO₂ content alone.
9. High Purity Is Really a Multi-Parameter Specification
When buyers say:
“We need high-purity metatitanic acid.”
the phrase can mean very different things to different suppliers.
A more technically meaningful definition is:
Titanium basis
- TiO₂ content
Hydrated state
- Matter volatile at 105°C
Process chemistry
- SO₄²⁻
- pH
Impurity profile
- Fe
- Al
- Si
- K
- Ca
Together, these parameters provide a much better description of metatitanic acid filter cake quality than a single “purity” figure.
10. Batch-to-Batch Consistency Is as Important as the Specification Sheet
A TDS shows the target specification.
Industrial buyers, however, also need to consider whether the material can be supplied consistently.
For titanium dioxide production, variation in incoming raw materials can require downstream process adjustments.
During supplier qualification, buyers should therefore consider requesting representative batch data or certificates of analysis where appropriate.
The key variables to monitor would logically include the same parameters defined in the TDS:
- TiO₂
- Matter volatile at 105°C
- SO₄²⁻
- Fe
- Al
- Si
- K
- Ca
- pH
The commercial objective is straightforward:
reduce variability entering the production process.
11. Packaging Matters More for Filter Cake Than Many Buyers Expect
Inter-China Chemical’s filter cake TDS specifies:
500 kg/bag or 1000 kg/bag
That packaging format is clearly intended for industrial-volume handling.
When qualifying a filter cake supplier, procurement and production teams should evaluate packaging together with:
- Plant unloading method
- Internal material-transfer system
- Storage duration
- Batch segregation requirements
- Contamination prevention
The TDS specifically states that products should be stored in a ventilated and dry storage area, that batches should be stored together to help prevent packaging contamination or damage, and that the material should be protected from rain and sun exposure during transportation.
This is operational information—not just fine print.
12. Storage and Transportation Should Be Part of Supplier Qualification
According to the current TDS, the product should:
- Be stored in a ventilated, dry storage area
- Be grouped by batch
- Not be stored directly on the ground
- Be separated using pallets or plastic sheets
- Be protected from moisture and sunlight
- Be kept away from reactive chemicals
- Be protected from rain and sun exposure during transportation
For filter cake, these conditions matter because the customer is purchasing a hydrated intermediate rather than a finished dry oxide.
A good procurement specification should therefore cover not only chemistry, but also delivery condition and packaging integrity.
What Should Buyers Ask Before Approving a Supplier?
A practical supplier qualification checklist could include:
- What is the guaranteed TiO₂ content?
- How is matter volatile at 105°C controlled?
- What sulfate specification is maintained?
- Which trace metals are routinely tested?
- What does “not detected” mean under the supplier’s analytical method?
- What pH range is maintained?
- Can batch-specific COAs be provided?
- What packaging sizes are available?
- What storage conditions are required?
- Is the supplied filter cake intended for high-purity titanium dioxide production or a different titanium process?
These questions move supplier qualification away from a simple price comparison and toward a proper raw-material risk assessment.
Filter Cake or Powder: Which Form Is More Appropriate?
Inter-China Chemical currently provides both metatitanic acid filter cake and powder specifications.
The two products have different TiO₂ and volatile-matter levels:
| Parameter | Filter Cake | Powder |
|---|---|---|
| TiO₂ | 50.2% | 68.7% |
| Matter Volatile at 105°C | 42.5% | 24.0% |
| SO₄²⁻ | 7.0% | 7.0% |
| Fe | 0.0003% | 0.0003% |
| Al | 0.0029% | 0.0029% |
| Si | Not detected | Not detected |
| K | 0.0037% | 0.0037% |
| Ca | 0.0061% | 0.0061% |
| pH | 2.4 | 2.2 |
The intended application emphasis is also different.
The filter cake TDS specifically highlights high-purity titanium dioxide production and titanium chemical processing, while the powder TDS highlights lithium titanate, lithium adsorbent, advanced functional titanium materials, and titanium-based chemical precursors.
So the decision should be driven by the customer’s downstream manufacturing route rather than by the assumption that one form is universally “better.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is metatitanic acid filter cake used for?
Inter-China Chemical’s current TDS lists applications including high-purity titanium dioxide production, titanium chemical processing, advanced ceramic materials, and functional titanium materials.
What is the TiO₂ content of metatitanic acid filter cake?
The current Inter-China Chemical specification is 50.2% TiO₂.
What is the volatile matter of the filter cake?
The TDS specifies 42.5% matter volatile at 105°C.
What is the sulfate content?
The current specification is 7.0% SO₄²⁻.
What is the pH?
The TDS specifies pH 2.4.
What trace metals are controlled?
The current specification lists Fe, Al, Si, K, and Ca, with Fe at 0.0003%, Al at 0.0029%, Si not detected, K at 0.0037%, and Ca at 0.0061%.
How is the filter cake packaged?
The TDS lists 500 kg/bag and 1000 kg/bag packaging.
Conclusion
For buyers sourcing high-purity metatitanic acid filter cake for titanium dioxide production, the purchasing decision should not be reduced to one TiO₂ number.
A more complete evaluation should include:
TiO₂ content + volatile matter + sulfate + pH + trace metals + packaging + batch consistency.
Inter-China Chemical’s current filter cake specification provides 50.2% TiO₂, 42.5% matter volatile at 105°C, 7.0% SO₄²⁻, pH 2.4, and controlled Fe, Al, Si, K, and Ca levels, with the product explicitly positioned for high-purity titanium dioxide production and other titanium-processing applications.
For industrial procurement, this is the more useful way to think about precursor quality:
Do not ask only whether the metatitanic acid meets a nominal purity level. Ask whether its complete specification is controlled well enough for your titanium dioxide production process.