Abstract: A process of recovering magnesium from an aluminum-magnesium alloy using a two electrode cell, comprising:placing an engineered scavenger compound in an electrode basket of a two electrode cell;adjusting the temperature of a surrounding heating furnace to a temperature below at the melting point of an Al--Mg alloy under a salt bath in a crucible disposed in the cell;immersing the electrode basket containing the engineered scavenger compound into a molten salt bath and making an electrical connection between the crucible and the electrode basket until the engineered scavenger compound is charged with Mg to a point sufficient to cause cessation of voltage and current flow; andmaking an electrical connection between the basket electrode containing the engineered scavenger compound and Mg and a stainless steel rod electrode disposed within the molten salt bath, and applying a current through a DC voltage sufficient to cause captured Mg to leave the engineered scavenger compound and become electrodeposited on the

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for producing a metastable precursor powder having about 20 to 60 percent of the silicon thereof in the nitride form. This process includes a controlled nitriding step using silicon, alumina, and either aluminum or aluminum nitride as starting materials. There is also disclosed a process for producing sialon from this precursor powder. This process includes the steps of doping the precursor powder, cold pressing or slip casting the doped powder, and then carrying out a controlled sintering step under a nitrogen atmosphere.