Abstract: The invention provides a method of producing a carbonate or a bicarbonate of an alkali metal, in solid form, from a sulphate of the alkali metal. The method includes, in a first reaction step, reacting, in aqueous medium, a sulphate of an alkali metal with one or more alkaline earth metal sulphides, thus forming an aqueous solution of one or more sulphides of the alkali metal and one or more sulphates of the alkaline earth metal in solid form. The method also includes, in a second reaction step, in the aqueous solution of one or more sulphides of the alkali metal, reacting the one or more sulphides of the alkali metal with carbon dioxide (CO2) in gaseous form, thus forming an aqueous solution of a bicarbonate of the alkali metal and gaseous hydrogen sulphide. The method further includes, in a recovery step, recovering a carbonate or the bicarbonate of the alkali metal, in solid form, from the aqueous solution of the bicarbonate of the alkali metal.

Abstract: A process (10) for the production of VCI4 includes suspending a solid particulate oxygen-free vanadium compound starting material in a liquid reaction medium to form a reaction mixture, and reacting the oxygen-free vanadium compound starting material suspended in the liquid reaction medium with a chlorinating agent (18) to produce liquid VCI4. The liquid reaction medium in the reaction mixture is maintained at a reaction temperature above its normal boiling point and the oxygen-free compound starting material and the chlorinating agent are reacted at a reaction pressure higher than the vapour pressure of the liquid reaction medium at the reaction temperature of the process so that the reaction mixture does not boil.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of crystalline titanium powder containing single crystals or agglomerates of single crystals having an average crystal size (by volume) greater than 1 ?m, said process including reacting a titanium chloride species, preferably titanium dichloride, and reducing metal in a continuous back-mix reactor to produce a free flowing suspension of titanium powder in molten chloride salt wherein: i. both the titanium chloride species and the reducing metal are dissolved in a molten chloride salt and fed to the reactor containing a chloride salt of the reducing metal; ii. the average feed ratio of the titanium chloride species and reducing metal to the continuous back-mix reactor is within 1%, preferably within 0.1%, of the stoichiometric ratio required to fully reduce the titanium chloride salt to titanium metal; iii.

Abstract: The invention provides a process and an apparatus for the production of a metal selected from metallic alkali metals, M, and alkaline earth metals, Mac from the molten salts thereof, the apparatus including at least an electrochemical cell with planar anodes and cathodes installed in the following sequence: {a-c-a)n to produce alkali metal or alkaline earth metals electrolytically!y from the respective chloride salts thereof, wherein n represents the number of times the sequence of anode-cathode-anode is repeated.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of crystalline titanium powder containing single crystals or agglomerates of single crystals having an average crystal size (by volume) greater than 1 ?m, said process including reacting a titanium chloride species, preferably titanium dichloride, and reducing metal in a continuous back-mix reactor to produce a free flowing suspension of titanium powder in molten chloride salt wherein: i. both the titanium chloride species and the reducing metal are dissolved in a molten chloride salt and fed to the reactor containing a chloride salt of the reducing metal; ii. the average feed ratio of the titanium chloride species and reducing metal to the continuous back-mix reactor is within 1%, preferably within 0.1%, of the stoichiometric ratio required to fully reduce the titanium chloride salt to titanium metal; iii.

Abstract: A method of upgrading a titaniferous material includes nitriding and reducing a titaniferous material which includes TiO2 and Fe oxides in the presence of nitrogen and carbon to convert the TiO2 to TiN and to reduce most of the Fe oxides to Fe. The Fe is oxidized in preference to the TiN to form Fe2+ ions, whereafter the Fe2+ ions are removed to produce an upgraded low-Fe TiN bearing material.

Abstract: The invention provides a crystalline Ti powder produced in a molten salt medium, said powder comprising predominantly particles of single ?-Ti crystals that are directly applicable in powder metallurgy.

Abstract: A method of upgrading a titaniferous material includes nitriding and reducing a titaniferous material which includes TiO2 and Fe oxides in the presence of nitrogen and carbon to convert the TiO2 to TiN and to reduce most of the Fe oxides to Fe. The Fe is oxidised in preference to the TiN to form Fe2+ ions, whereafter the Fe2+ ions are removed to produce an upgraded low-Fe TiN bearing material.

Abstract: The invention provides a crystalline Ti powder produced in a molten salt medium, said powder comprising predominantly particles of single ?-Ti crystals that are directly applicable in powder metallurgy.

Abstract: The invention provides a process and installation for the treatment of a solid. The process includes passing the solid along a kiln having a hollow interior, while supporting the solid on supports moved successively along the kiln and heating the solid, by radiant heat, to a temperature at which it undergoes an endothermic chemical reaction. The installation includes a kiln having a hollow interior with an inlet end and an outlet end, a roof, a floor and a pair of opposed side walls, and a path for supports loaded with the solid to pass successively along in the interior, from the inlet end to the outlet end, the path extending along the floor. The installation includes heating surfaces for radiating heat towards the solid on supports passing along the path, and a plurality of supports, movable in succession along the path.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) by the chlorination of titanium values in a titanium-containing starting material. The process includes exposing the starting material to a chlorinating agent and contacting the starting material with an inert liquid while the starting material is exposed to the chlorinating agent. The inert liquid is at a temperature of 200-350° C. and is at a pressure of 5-100 atmospheres (1 atmosphere=101.325 kN/m2). This causes the starting material to react with the chlorinating agent to form TiCl4. The invention also extends to TiCl4 whenever made in accordance with the method.