Abstract: The invention provides a method for the production of a metal, the method comprising the steps of mixing an oxide of the metal with a reducing agent comprising a Group II metal or a hydride thereof in the presence of water and/or an organic solvent, heating the mixture of oxide and reducing agent, leaching the resulting material with water; and washing the leached material with a dilute aqueous acid. Typically, the metal is a transition or rare earth metal, the oxide of the metal is an oxide of a transition or rare earth metal, and the reducing agent is selected from calcium or magnesium or the hydrides of calcium and magnesium. The metal is generally obtained at a purity of around 98.5-99.1%, and the method is much quicker than the methods of the prior art and has a much lower carbon footprint, thereby providing an option which is more sustainable, environmentally friendly, and accommodative for industries.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the production of a metal, the method comprising the steps of mixing an oxide of the metal with a reducing agent comprising a Group II metal or a hydride thereof in the presence of water and/or an organic solvent, heating the mixture of oxide and reducing agent, leaching the resulting material with water; and washing the leached material with a dilute aqueous acid. Typically, the metal is a transition or rare earth metal, the oxide of the metal is an oxide of a transition or rare earth metal, and the reducing agent is selected from calcium or magnesium or the hydrides of calcium and magnesium. The metal is generally obtained at a purity of around 98.5-99.1%, and the method is much quicker than the methods of the prior art and has a much lower carbon footprint, thereby providing an option which is more sustainable, environmentally friendly, and accommodative for industries.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for beneficiating a titaniferous ore. The process comprises calcining the titaniferous ore, at least one alkali or alkaline earth metal salt, and at least one alumina-containing material in the presence of oxygen to form a calcined ore mixture, then leaching the calcined ore mixture with a solution comprising ammonium, sodium or magnesium chloride in the presence of oxygen to form a leached ore mixture, and contacting the leached ore with an acid to form a beneficiated ore.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for beneficiating a titaniferous ore. The process comprises calcining the titaniferous ore, at least one alkali or alkaline earth metal salt, and at least one alumina-containing material in the presence of oxygen to form a calcined ore mixture, then leaching the calcined ore mixture with a solution comprising ammonium, sodium or magnesium chloride in the presence of oxygen to form a leached ore mixture, and contacting the leached ore with an acid to form a beneficiated ore.