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.

Abstract: The specification discloses a process for removing radionuclides from zircon. The process involves thermally decomposing the zircon in the presence of suitable additives, extracting the radionuclides chemically and recovering zirconia and silica. Suitable additives include fluxes, silica and any oxide capable of forming a silicate with silica when heated. Chemical treatments disclosed include leaching with mineral acids and strong organic acids. Methods of stabilizing the radionuclides extracted by leaching are also disclosed. One method involves spray roasting. Another method involves neutralization of leach liquor and recovery of radionuclide solids by filtration or other suitable liquid/solid separation techniques.

Abstract: The specification describes a process for producing synthetic rutile from a titaniferous ore or concentrate. The process involves three basic steps which are reduction, removal or iron by leaching or aeration and removal of other impurities by leaching in a solution of a strong mineral acid such as hydrochloric acid or sulphuric acid. The conditions of reduction are controlled to promote the formation of metallic iron, a major rutile phase and a minor impurity bearing phase. The minor impurity phase may be a metatitanate, an anosovite or a pseudobrookite. However, formation of a metatinatate is normally preferred. Suitable reductants include carbonaceous materials or hydrogen bearing gases such as natural gas or synthesis gas. The process is capable of removing more than 80% of each of the contained iron magnesium and manganese remaining as oxides after reduction. Substantial proportions of contained aluminum can also be removed.