Abstract: Ferrous sulphate heptahydrate obtained as a by-product of the production of titanium dioxide by the sulphate process is converted into a non-polluting, free-flowing particulate neutralization product by contacting said sulphate with calcium hydroxide as a neutralizing agent in a molar ratio between said neutralizing agent and said ferrous sulphate of at least 1:1, and reacting the resulting mixture under agitation at a temperature not exceeding 60.degree. C. and for a contact time not exceeding five minutes.

Abstract: Soil modifiers comprising from 80 to 95% by weight of a mixture of ferric oxide and ferric sulphate in an oxide/sulphate weight ratio of from 0.2:1 to 2:1 are prepared by calcining at 500.degree.-600.degree. C in the presence of an oxidizing gas a material consisting essentially of ferrous sulphate with an average number of molecules of crystallization of from 1 to 5 obtained by partial dehydration of the waste materials, consisting essentially of ferrous sulphate heptahydrate, obtained in the manufacture of titanium dioxide from ilmenites or ilmenite slags by the sulphate process. These modifiers are particularly suitable for clay soils.