Abstract: There is provided a multi stage process for nonselectively chlorinating a titaniferous ore containing iron to produce TiCl.sub.4. In this process a portion of the ore charge is subjected to conventional fluid bed chlorination to produce TiCl.sub.4 and FeCl.sub.2. A second portion is subdivided and submitted to chlorination in a dilute phase chlorination step using FeCl.sub.3 as the chlorinating agent to produce additional TiCl.sub.4. The FeCl.sub.3 is obtained by partial oxidation of the FeCl.sub.2 obtained in the first stage and/or second stage to yield Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 and FeCl.sub.3. The product streams of TiCl.sub.4 are then combined for further treatment.

Abstract: There is provided an improved process for chlorinating an iron-containing titaniferous ore, such as ilmenite which comprises dividing the ore charge into 2 parts. The first and major part is chlorinated with chlorine or with a mixture of chlorine and FeCl.sub.3 under fluidized bed conditions to yield principally TiCl.sub.4 and FeCl.sub.2. The FeCl.sub.2 is separated out and utilized as a chlorinating agent for the minor part of the ore in an entrained flow chlorinator to yield more TiCl.sub.4 and metallic iron as principal products. This process avoids the need for disposal of FeCl.sub.2 and retains the advantages of conventional chlorination procedures.