Process for preparing titanium tetrachloride using off gases from a silica and zircon carbo-chlorination process

A process for preparing titanium tetrachloride comprising:

• (a) reacting ore comprising an oxide with a chlorine and a carbon compound at a temperature of about 900° C. to about 1300° C. to form an unscrubbed first off-gas comprising carbon monoxide, wherein the oxide is selected from the group consisting of silica, zircon and mixtures thereof, and wherein the carbon compound is selected from the group consisting of coke, charcoal, silicon carbide and mixtures thereof;
• and
• (b) reacting titanium tetrachloride and an oxygen containing gas in the vapor phase and in the presence of the first off-gas under conditions effective to form titanium dioxide and a second off-gas comprising carbon monoxide;
• (c) reacting a titanium dioxide-containing feedstock with the second off-gas under conditions effective for forming titanium tetrachloride and carbon dioxide.