Abstract: A process for facilitating the removal of impurities e.g. radionuclides, such as uranium and thorium, and/or one or more of their radionuclide daughters, from titaniferous material includes contacting the titaniferous material with one or more reagents at an elevated temperature selected to enhance the accessibility of at least one of the radionuclide daughters in the titaniferous material. The reagent(s) may be a glass forming reagent and is selected to form a phase at the elevated temperature which disperses onto the surfaces of the titaniferous material and incorporates the radionuclides and one or more radionuclide daughter. The titaniferous material may be, e.g., ilmenite, reduced ilmenite, altered ilmenite or synthetic rutile.

Abstract: Magnesium hydroxide slurries having the following characteristics: (i) having a solids content of between 40-80 wt. % based on the weight of the slurry with the balance being water; (ii) containing between 0.01-5.0 wt.% of at least one viscosity modifying agent or dispersant based on the weight of the slurry selected from the following groups: (1) inorganic acids having a molecular weight less than 130 amu and their inorganic salts excluding H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, H.sub.3 PO.sub.4, silicic acid and salts having an alkali metal as sole cation; (2) low molecular weight (i.e.

Abstract: A process for facilitating removal of one or more impurities from titaniferous material containing the impurities in a form which is highly soluble in acid. The material is in turn leached with a sulphuric acid solution and with a hydrochloric acid solution in either order. To enhance the susceptibility of the impurities to removal, the hydrochloric acid leach is augmented by one or more of the following: (i) addition of an effective amount of an added chloride salt; (ii) pre-treatment of the titaniferous material with a solution of an effective amount of a carbonate salt, preferably an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal carbonate; and/or (iii) pre-treatment of the titaniferous material with a solution of an effective amount of a hydroxide, preferably an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxide.

Abstract: A process for facilitating the removal of impurities e.g. radionuclides, such as uranium and thorium, and/or one or more of their radionuclide daughters, from titaniferous material includes contacting the titaniferous material with one or more reagents at an elevated temperature selected to enhance the accessibility of at least one of the radionuclide daughters in the titaniferous material. The reagent(s) may be a glass forming reagent and is selected to form a phase at the elevated temperature which disperses onto the surfaces of the titaniferous material and incorporates the radionuclides and one or more radionuclide daughters. The titaniferous material may be, e.g., ilmenite, reduced ilmenite, altered ilmenite or synthetic rutile.