Titanium Dioxide

Synonyms:  Anatase titanium dioxide; brookite titanium dioxide; color index number 77891; E171; Hombitan FF-Pharma; Kemira AFDC; Kronos 1171; pigment white 6; Pretiox AV-01-FG; rutile titanium dioxide; Tioxide; TiPure; titanic anhydride; titanii dioxidum; Tronox.

Description: White, amorphous, odorless, and tasteless nonhygroscopic powder. Although the average particle size of titanium dioxide powder is less than 1 mm, commercial titanium dioxide generally occurs as aggregated particles of approximately 100 mm diameter. Titanium dioxide may occur in several different crystalline forms: rutile; anatase; and brookite. Of these, rutile and anatase are the only forms of commercial importance. Rutile is the more thermodynamically stable crystalline form, but anatase is the form most commonly used in pharmaceutical applications.

Chemical Name: Dioxotitanium

Antioxidant; antiseptic; cooling agent; disinfectant; flavoring agent; skin penetrant; therapeutic agent.

• Titanium dioxide is widely used in confectionery, cosmetics, and foods, in the plastics industry, and in topical and oral pharmaceutical formulations as a white pigment.

• Owing to its high refractive index, titanium dioxide has lightscattering properties that may be exploited in its use as a white pigment and opacifier.

• The range of light that is scattered can be altered by varying the particle size of the titanium dioxide powder. For example, titanium dioxide with an average particle size of 230 nm scatters visible light, while titanium dioxide with an average particle size of 60 nm scatters ultraviolet light and reflects visible light.

• In pharmaceutical formulations, titanium dioxide is used as a white pigment in film-coating suspensions, sugar-coated tablets, and gelatin capsules.

• Titanium dioxide may also be admixed with other pigments. Titanium dioxide is also used in dermatological preparations and cosmetics, such as sunscreens.

Owing to a photocatalytic effect, titanium dioxide may interact with certain active substances, e.g. famotidine. Studies haveshown that titanium dioxide monatonically degrades film mechanical properties and increases water vapor permeability of polyvinyl alcohol coatings when used as an inert filler and whitener. Titanium dioxide has also been shown to induce photooxidation of unsaturated lipids

Titanium dioxide is widely used in foods and oral and topical pharmaceutical formulations. It is generally regarded as an essentially nonirritant and nontoxic excipient.

Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled. Eye protection, gloves, and a dust mask are recommended. Titanium dioxide is regarded as a relatively innocuous nuisance dust, that may be irritant to the respiratory tract

Coloring agents.