Abstract: The present invention comprises a process for preparing essentially pure 1,2-dihydro-6-alkyl-2-oxo-5-(pyridinyl)-nicotinonitriles from a crude reaction mixture containing the corresponding amide as an impurity. By "essentially pure" is meant a level of purity acceptable for orally administered pharmaceutical products, usually less than 0.1% of any single impurity. At least a stoichiometric amount of an acylating agent is reacted with the crude reaction mixture, and thereafter recovering essentially pure 1,2-dihydro-6-alkyl-2-oxo 5-(pyridinyl)-nicotinonitrile.

Abstract: A process for removal of thorium from titanium chlorinator waste comprising: (a) leaching an anhydrous titanium chlorinator waste in water or dilute hydrochloric acid solution and filtering to separate insoluble minerals and coke fractions from soluble metal chlorides; (b) beneficiating the insoluble fractions from step (a) on shaking tables to recover recyclable or otherwise useful TiO.sub.2 minerals and coke; and (c) treating filtrate from step (a) with reagents to precipitate and remove thorium by filtration along with acid metals of Ti, Zr, Nb, and Ta by the addition of the filtrate (a), a base and a precipitant to a boiling slurry of reaction products (d); treating filtrate from step (c) with reagents to precipitate and recover an iron vanadate product by the addition of the filtrate (c), a base and an oxidizing agent to a boiling slurry of reaction products; and (e) treating filtrate from step (d) to remove any remaining cations except Na by addition of Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 and boiling.

Abstract: A process for forming chlorine gas from ferric chloride powders comprising pelletizing the ferric chloride and reacting the pellets with oxygen gas at a temperature in the range of 650.degree. to 800.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for recovery of aluminum from clay comprising treating the crushed clay with water in the form of a fine mist, and in an amount sufficient to form compact surfaces on the particles without agglomeration thereof, and subsequently drying the misted clay to cause the particles to shrink and harden, and calcining and leaching with a mineral acid to extract aluminum from the clay.