Abstract: A process for recovering metal values from a metal containing material including the metal values comprising digesting the metal containing material in a sulfuric acid solution comprising sulfuric acid, a reducing agent, and a carbon source, heating the digestion mixture and separating the resulting solution from the remaining solids. The sulfuric acid solution may additionally include hydrofluoric acid (HF) as a source of fluoride ion.

Abstract: Methods to control hydrogen sulfide and/or arsine emissions are described. The method involves adding at least one copper compound (such as a copper(II) compound) to the material, such as material containing sulfur in a sufficient amount to control said emissions. The material that is treated with the copper compound(s) is preferably an ore, such as a valve metal containing ore.

Abstract: The processes of the present invention include mineral acid leaching of a metal containing material, such as an ore residue, containing fluoridated metal values in the presence of a complexing agent which will complex fluoride ions. The processes of the present invention provide for the separation of valuable metal, fluoride and radionuclide values from a feed material of high mineral content wherein the metals and radionuclides are present as substantially water insoluble fluorides or are trapped within a metal fluorine matrix which is substantially insoluble in typical chemical reactant systems.

Abstract: Methods to control hydrogen sulfide and/or arsine emissions are described. The method involves adding at least one copper compound (such as a copper(II) compound) to the material, such as material containing sulfur in a sufficient amount to control said emissions. The material that is treated with the copper compound(s) is preferably an ore, such as a valve metal containing ore.

Abstract: Barium titanate-based particles having a coating comprising an oxide, hydrous oxide, hydroxide or organic acid salt of a metal other than barium or titanium, wherein at least 90 percent of said particles have a particle size less than 0.9 micrometer when said particles are dispersed by high shear mixing, useful in the fabrication of thin, fine-grained dielectric layers for multilayer ceramic capacitors with high breakdown voltage.

Abstract: Barium titanate-based particles having a coating comprising an oxide, hydrous oxide, hydroxide or organic acid salt of a metal other than barium or titanium, wherein at least 90 percent of said particles have a particle size less than 0.9 micrometer when said particles are dispersed by high shear mixing, useful in the fabrication of thin, fine-grained dielectric layers for multilayer ceramic capacitors with high breakdown voltage.

Abstract: Barium titanate-based particles having a coating comprising an oxide, hydrous oxide, hydroxide or organic acid salt of a metal other than barium or titanium, wherein at least 90 percent of said particles have a particle size less than 0.9 micrometer when said particles are dispersed by high shear mixing, useful in the fabrication of thin, fine-grained dielectric layers for multilayer ceramic capacitors with high breakdown voltage.

Abstract: A process for recovering metal and acid values from a source material containing metallic fluorides comprises digesting the source material in sulfuric acid to form a slurry, separating a fluoride containing solid phase and a metal containing first liquid phase. The solid phase is subjected to pyrohydrolysis, sulfuric and hydrofluoric acids are recovered, and the first liquid phase is processed to recover the metal values by solvent extraction or ion exchanges. The tantalum values are extracted from the first liquid aqueous phase by a water immiscible organic extractant such as methylisobutyl ketone to form a first liquid organic phase containing tantalum and a second liquid aqueous phase. The tantalum is stripped from the first organic phase using water. The process includes the additional steps of heating the separated solid phase from about ambient temperature to an elevated temperature in the presence of water vapor to evolve sulfuric acid and render the gangue chemically inert.

Abstract: A process for controlling the oxygen content in tantalum material comprising heating the material under a hydrogen-containing atmosphere in the presence of a getter composite comprising a getter metal encapsulated in tantalum.

Abstract: A process for controlling the oxygen content in tantalum material comprising heating the material under a hydrogen-containing atmosphere in the presence of a getter composite comprising a getter metal encapsulated in tantalum.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the reduction of oxygen content in tantalum and/or columbium-containing material comprising heating the material under a hydrogen atmosphere in the presence of an oxygen-active metal.

Abstract: Passified Zinc Soluble Metal-Based Metal particles having a controlled particle size distribution suitable for metallurgy usage without additional particle size reduction and process for making the same. Such metal particles are substantially free of halides, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon and are produced at temperatures considerably below that of arc melting temperatures of Zinc Soluble Metal-Based Metals and alloys based thereon.

Abstract: A process is provided for recovering valuable metals from geothermal brine comprising introducing donor metallic particles into a geothermal zone which is dominated with hot-pressurized geothermal brine which contains a metal value selected from the group consisting of gold value, silver value, copper value, lead value, tin value and mixtures thereof. The donor metallic particle contains a donor metal selected from the group consisting of iron, zinc, aluminum and mixtures thereof. The process further comprises forming a deposit on the donor metallic particles by replacing at least a part of the donor particle with the metal values, producing a stream of the hot-pressurized geothermal brine containing the donor metallic particles which, in turn, contain the deposit of metal values, and separating the donor metallic particles from the thusly produced stream of hot-pressurized geothermal brine.

Abstract: Passified Group IVb transition metal-based metal particles having a controlled particle size distribution suitable for metallurgy usage without additional particle size reduction and process for making the same. Such metal particles are substantially free of halides, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon and are produced at temperatures considerably below that of arc melting temperatures of Group IVb transition metals and alloys based thereon.

Abstract: A process to produce passified Group IVb transition metal based metal particles having a controlled particle size distribution is disclosed which produces particles suitable for metallurgy usage without additional particle size reduction. Such particles are also substantially free of halides and are produced at temperatures considerably below that of arc melting temperatures of Group IVb transition metals and alloys based thereon.

Abstract: A process for producing phosphorus pentoxide from phosphate ore includes the steps of mixing phosphate ore containing silica with solid carbonaceous material and a silica fluxing agent to form a feed mixture and thereafter forming the feed mixture into pellets. Alternatively, pellets may be formed using phosphate ore containing silica and carbonaceous material which are then coated with a silica fluxing agent. The pellets are heated by exposure to radiation eminating from an oxidation zone within a kiln to a temperature enabling the silica fluxing agent to promote melting of the silica proximate to surface areas of the pellet in order to seal internal portions of the pellet from the oxidizing zone and thereby reduce premature oxidation of the carbonaceous material in the pellet. Thereafter the pellets are heated to a temperature sufficient to reduce the phosphate in the pellets by reaction with the solid carbonaceous material to form elemental phosphorus vapor.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a process for the preparation of titanium metal from an ore comprising titanium oxides which process comprises the steps of fluorinating the ore to convert the titanium oxides to titanium fluorides and then reducing the titanium fluorides to the metal. Such reduction may be carried out by contacting the titanium fluorides as a molten salt mixture with a molten alloy of zinc and aluminum at conditions whereby titanium is converted into a titanium-zinc alloy and the aluminum is converted into fluorides of aluminum. The titanium zinc alloy is separated from the fluorides of aluminum and the zinc is distilled from the alloy to leave behind titanium sponge. The ore may be an ilmenite ore and the fluorination may be carried out by contacting said ilmenite ore with a fluosilicate salt such as sodium fluosilicate.

Abstract: A process for producing phosphorus pentoxide from phosphorus ore includes formation of a feed with a phosphate ore, silica and solid carbonaceous material in amounts to produce a feed mixture having a CaO/SiO.sub.2 mole ratio of less than about 0.5. The feed mixture is formed into agglomerated feed particles and the particles are heated by exposure to radiation eminating from an oxidation zone to a temperature sufficient to reduce the phosphate by reaction from the solid carbonaceous material to form elemental phosphorus vapor without substantial melting of the agglomerated feed particles. Sufficient oxygen-containing gas is provided to cause oxidation of the elemental phosphorus vapor within the oxidation zone to produce phosphorus pentoxide.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for introducing finely divided gas bubbles into a lixiviant used for in-situ mining of minerals containing metal values, such as copper values. The lixiviant is supplied to a plurality of porous tubes formed of sintered powdered metal while a gas is supplied under pressure about the tubes to cause the gas to penetrate into the interior of the tubes in the form of fine bubbles which are wiped from the interior of the tubes by the lixiviant passing therethrough.The method and apparatus can be advantageously employed in situations where it is desirable to perform in-situ mining with an oxidizing lixiviant. In these cases oxygen is supplied under pressure about the tubes.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a process for the preparation of titanium dioxide from an ore comprising titanium oxides which comprises the steps of fluorinating said ore to convert the titanium oxides to titanium fluorides; and, contacting said titanium fluorides with an alkaline material at conditions whereby said titanium fluorides are converted to titanium dioxide. The ore may be an ilmenite ore and the fluorination may be carried out by contacting said ilmenite ore with a fluosilicate salt as sodium fluosilicate.