Chloride process. This process requires a high titanium feedstock. Rutile is reacted with hydrochloric acid to produce titanium tetrachloride, which can be hydrolyzed with steam or oxidized with air to render the dioxide. A rutile form of titanium dioxide is obtained.
ROS were detected through the colorimetric assay employing the nitro-blue tetrazolium salt (NBT salt) by reading the absorbance of the reduced blue molecule.
Titanium dioxide (E 171) is authorised as a food additive in the EU according to Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.
Although the evidence for general toxic effects was not conclusive, on the basis of the new data and strengthened methods we could not rule out a concern for genotoxicity and consequently we could not establish a safe level for daily intake of the food additive, commented Matthew Wright, member of the EFSA's Food Additives and Flavourings Panel in a press statement.
