Abstract: Compounds, such as compounds having Formula (I): wherein each variable is as described herein, that modulate the conversion of AMP to adenosine by 5?-nucleotidase, ecto, and compositions containing the compounds and methods for synthesizing the compounds, are described herein. The use of such compounds and compositions for the treatment and/or prevention of a diverse array of diseases, disorders and conditions, including cancer- and immune-related disorders, that are mediated by 5?-nucleotidase, ecto is also provided.

Abstract: It is disclosed the use of amorphous silica reagent produced from serpentine as pozzolane additive material, and more particularly a concrete mixture, such as high performance and ultra-high performance concrete, comprising a hydraulic binder; sand; aggregates, chemical admixture, mineral admixture as silica fume and an amorphous silica reagent (AmSR), wherein the AmSR is admixed for example with General Use Portland Cement and provides synergistic effect when combined with silica fume.

Abstract: It is provided a process of producing amorphous silica from a raw material, such as serpentine, containing silica comprising the steps of mixing the raw material with a hydrochloric acid solution; leaching the raw material obtaining a slurry comprising a liquid fraction and a solid fraction containing silica and minerals; separating the liquid fraction and the solid fraction; removing the minerals from the solid fraction by magnetic separation producing a purified solid silica; drying the purified solid silica; and heating the purified solid silica to remove hydroxyl groups from the silica surface and reducing specific surface area of the resulting amorphous silica.

Abstract: The present description relates to a process for producing magnesium metal from dihydrate magnesium chloride comprising the steps of dehydrating MgCI2.2H2O with anhydrous hydrochloric acid (HCI) to obtain anhydrous magnesium chloride in an inert environment, releasing the mixture of hydrous HCI and protection gas; and electrolyzing the anhydrous magnesium chloride in an electrolytic cell fed with hydrogen gas under free oxygen atmosphere content, wherein magnesium metal and anhydrous hydrogen chloride are produced, wherein a part of the hydrous HCI is passed through a scrubbing unit to obtain a hydrochloric acid solution, the other part of the hydrochloric chloride gas is dehydrated by contact with a desiccant agent in a drying unit to produce anhydrous HCI, and wherein the anhydrous HCI produced by at least one of the electrolytic cell and the drying unit is reused to dehydrate the of MgCI2.2H2O.

Abstract: The present description relates to a process for producing magnesium metal from magnesium-bearing ores using serpentine. The process described herein consists generally in a mineral preparation and classification followed by leaching with dilute hydrochloric acid. The slurry is filtered and the non-leached portion, containing amorphous silica is recovered. The residual solution is neutralized and purified by chemical precipitation with non activated and activated serpentine. The nickel is also recovered by precipitation at higher pH. A final neutralisation and purification step of magnesium chloride solution by precipitation allows eliminating any traces of residual impurities. The purified magnesium chloride solution is evaporated until saturation and the MgCl2.6H2O is recovered by crystallization in an acid media. The salt is dehydrated and subsequent electrolysis of anhydrous magnesium chloride produces pure magnesium metal and hydrochloric acid.

Abstract: There are provided processes for preparing alumina. These processes can comprise leaching an aluminum-containing material with HCl so as to obtain a leachate comprising aluminum ions and a solid, and separating said solid from said leachate; reacting said leachate with HCl so as to obtain a liquid and a precipitate comprising said aluminum ions in the form of AlCl3, and separating said precipitate from said liquid; and heating said precipitate under conditions effective for converting AlCl3 into Al2O3 and optionally recovering gaseous HCl so-produced. These processes can also be used for preparing various other products such as hematite, MgO, silica and oxides of various metals, sulphates and chlorides of various metals, as well as rare earth elements, rare metals and aluminum.

Abstract: The present description relates to an anode arrangement for use in an electrolysis production of metals comprising an anode having a hollow body comprising a cavity, the body having at least one gas outlet connected in flow communication with the cavity. A gas inlet is connected in fluid flow communication with the cavity of the anode, the gas inlet being connectable to a source of hydrogen gas for feeding hydrogen gas into the cavity of the anode. The anode arrangement also comprises an electrical connector and a hydrogen chloride (HCl) recuperator surrounding at least a portion of the anode for recovering HCl gas released through the at least one gas outlet at an outer surface of the anode during electrolysis.

Abstract: The present description relates to a process for extracting magnesium compounds from magnesium-bearing ores comprising leaching serpentine tailing with dilute HCl to dissolve the magnesium and other elements like iron and nickel. The residual silica is removed and the rich solution is further neutralized to eliminate impurities and recover nickel. Magnesium chloride is transformed in magnesium sulfate and hydrochloric acid by reaction with sulfuric acid. The magnesium sulfate can be further decomposed in magnesium oxyde and sulphur dioxyde by calcination. The sulphur gas can further be converted into sulfuric acid.

Abstract: It is provided a process of producing amorphous silica from a raw material, such as serpentine, containing silica comprising the steps of mixing the raw material with a hydrochloric acid solution; leaching the raw material obtaining a slurry comprising a liquid fraction and a solid fraction containing silica and minerals; separating the liquid fraction and the solid fraction; removing the minerals from the solid fraction by magnetic separation producing a purified solid silica; drying the purified solid silica; and heating the purified solid silica to remove hydroxyl groups from the silica surface and reducing specific surface area of the resulting amorphous silica.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to processes for recovering rare earth elements from an aluminum-bearing material. The processes can comprise leaching the aluminum-bearing material with an acid so as to obtain a leachate comprising at least one aluminum ion, at least one iron ion, at least one rare earth element, and a solid, and separating the leachate from the solid. The processes can also comprise substantially selectively removing at least one of the at least one aluminum ion and the at least one iron ion from the leachate and optionally obtaining a precipitate. The processes can also comprise substantially selectively removing the at least one rare earth element from the leachate and/or the precipitate.

Abstract: The present description relates to a process for producing magnesium metal from dihydrate magnesium chloride comprising the steps of dehydrating MgCI2.2H2O with anhydrous hydrochloric acid (HCI) to obtain anhydrous magnesium chloride in an inert environment, releasing the mixture of hydrous HCI and protection gas; and electrolyzing the anhydrous magnesium chloride in an electrolytic cell fed with hydrogen gas under free oxygen atmosphere content, wherein magnesium metal and anhydrous hydrogen chloride are produced, wherein a part of the hydrous HCI is passed through a scrubbing unit to obtain a hydrochloric acid solution, the other part of the hydrochloric chloride gas is dehydrated by contact with a desiccant agent in a drying unit to produce anhydrous HCI, and wherein the anhydrous HCI produced by at least one of the electrolytic cell and the drying unit is reused to dehydrate the of MgCI2.2H2O.

Abstract: The present description relates to a process for extracting magnesium compounds from magnesium-bearing ores comprising leaching serpentine tailing with dilute HCl to dissolve the magnesium and other elements like iron and nickel. The resudial silica is removed and the rich solution is further neutralized to eliminate impurities and recover nickel. Magnesium chloride is transformed in magnesium sulfate and hydrochloric acid by reaction with sulfuric acid. The magnesium sulfate can be further decomposed in magnesium oxyde and sulphur dioxyde by calcination. The sulphur gas can further be converted into sulfuric acid.

Abstract: There is provided a process for purifying aluminum ions comprising: reacting an aluminum-containing material with an acid so as to obtain a composition comprising aluminum ions; precipitating said aluminum ions in the form of AlCl3; optionally converting AlCl3 into Al(OH)3; and heating said AlCl3 or said Al(OH)3 under conditions effective for converting AlCl3 or Al(OH)3 into Al2O3 and optionally recovering gaseous HCl so-produced. Aluminum ions so purified are thus useful for preparing various types of alumina.

Abstract: It is described a process for extracting aluminum from aluminum-bearing materials comprising the steps of leaching the aluminum-bearing material with HCl to obtain aluminum chloride; separating and purifying the aluminum chloride; providing aluminum chloride to an electrolysis cell comprising an anode connected to a source of hydrogen gas delivering the hydrogen gas during use to the anode, and a cathode; passing an electric current from the anode through the cathode, depositing aluminum at the cathode; and draining the aluminum from the cathode.

Abstract: The present description relates to a process for producing magnesium metal from magnesium-bearing ores using serpentine. The process described herein consists generally in a mineral preparation and classification followed by leaching with dilute hydrochloric acid. The slurry is filtered and the non-leached portion, containing amorphous silica is recovered. The residual solution is neutralized and purified by chemical precipitation with non activated and activated serpentine. The nickel is also recovered by precipitation at higher pH. A final neutralisation and purification step of magnesium chloride solution by precipitation allows eliminating any traces of residual impurities. The purified magnesium chloride solution is evaporated until saturation and the MgCl2.6H2O is recovered by crystallization in an acid media. The salt is dehydrated and subsequent electrolysis of anhydrous magnesium chloride produces pure magnesium metal and hydrochloric acid.

Abstract: There are provided processes for treating red mud. For example, the processes can comprise leaching red mud with HCl so as to obtain a leachate comprising ions of a first metal (for example aluminum) and a solid, and separating said solid from said leachate. Several other metals can be extracted from the leachate (Fe, Ni, Co, Mg, rare earth elements, rare metals, etc.). Various other components can be extracted from solid such as TiO2, SiO2 etc.

Abstract: There are provided processes for purifying aluminum ions. Such processes comprise precipitating the aluminum ions under the form of Al(OH)3 at a first pH range; converting Al(OH)3 into AlCl3 by reacting Al(OH)3 with HCl and precipitating said AlCl3; and heating the AlCl3 under conditions effective for converting AlCl3 into Al2O3 and optionally recovering gaseous HCl so-produced. The processes can also comprise converting alumina into aluminum.

Abstract: There are provided processes for preparing alumina. These processes can comprise leaching an aluminum-containing material with HCl so as to obtain a leachate comprising aluminum ions and a solid, and separating said solid from said leachate; reacting said leachate with HCl so as to obtain a liquid and a precipitate comprising said aluminum ions in the form of AlCl3, and separating said precipitate from said liquid; and heating said precipitate under conditions effective for converting AlCl3 into Al2O3 and optionally recovering gaseous HCl so-produced. These processes can also be used for preparing various other products such as hematite, MgO, silica and oxides of various metals, sulphates and chlorides of various metals, as well as rare earth elements, rare metals and aluminum.

Abstract: There are provided processes for purifying aluminum ions. Such processes comprise precipitating the aluminum ions under the form of Al(OH)3 at a first pH range; converting Al(OH)3 into AlCl3 by reacting Al(OH)3 with HCl and precipitating said AlCl3; and heating the AlCl3 under conditions effective for converting AlCl3 into Al2O3 and optionally recovering gaseous HCl so-produced. The processes can also comprise converting alumina into aluminum.

Abstract: There is provided a process for preparing alumina. The process comprise leaching an aluminum-containing material (for example an industrial waste product chosen from red mud, fly ashes and a mixture thereof), with HCl so as to obtain a leachate comprising aluminum ions and a solid, and separating the solid from the leachate. Then, the process comprises reacting the leachate with HCl so as to obtain a liquid and a precipitate comprising the aluminum ions in the form of AlCl3, and separating the precipitate from the liquid. Then, the precipitate is reacted with a base. Finally, the process comprises heating the precipitate under conditions effective for converting the precipitate into Al2O3.