Abstract: The present invention relates to a zero-waste process for extraction of alumina from different types of bauxite ores and red mud residues and of titanium dioxide from ilmenite. Iron oxide is first reduced to metallic iron above the melting point of C-saturated cast iron alloy which yields a high-C iron alloy and an Al and Ti metal oxide rich slag which is then treated with alkali carbonate to form alkali aluminates and titanates. The alkali aluminates are separated by water leaching from which the hydroxide of alumina is precipitated by bubbling CO2. The residue from water leaching is treated with sulphuric acid and TiO2 is precipitated via a hydrolysis route. The process recovers most of the metal values and generates only small quantities of silicious residues at pH4-5 which can be used for soil conditioning.

Abstract: Provided is a process for preparation and/or purification of clavulanic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof including removing solids from a clavulanic acid containing fermentation broth by microfiltration to form a first filtrate, further removing solids from the first filtrate by ultrafiltration to form a second filtrate, concentrating the second filtrate by removal of water, and treating the concentrated second filtrate to isolate clavulanic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof, characterized in that the first filtrate is filtered using an ultrafiltration membrane having a molecular weight cut-off of 10 to 30 kD and a permeate flow rate of 10 to 30 lm.sup.-2 h.sup.-1.