Abstract: In the alkaline-oxidative disintegration of chromites into chromates with an alkali comprising reacting a chromium ore in the presence of oxygen and a diluent, and leaching the reaction mixture with at least one of water and/or a chromate-containing aqueous solution, the improvement which comprises reacting the residue obtained after leaching with an excess of alkali, based on the chromium oxide content of the residue, in the presence of oxygen, grinding the reaction mixture and, without leaching, employing the ground reaction mixture as an alkali source in another chromite disintegration cycle. The alkali reacted with the leaching residue is preferably sodium and/or potassium hydroxide and/or carbonate and is employed in about 100 to 400%, and preferably about 150 to 330%, of the stoichiometric amount based on the chromium oxide content of the leaching residue.

Abstract: A process which comprises reacting at a temperature above 100.degree.C. a metal oxide, hydroxide or a mixture thereof with aqueous fluosilicic acid, said fluosilicic acid having a concentration of about 10 to 45% by weight, to form gaseous silicon tetrafluoride and the corresponding metal fluoride and recovering said metal fluoride from the reaction medium.