Abstract: Ferric chloride from the selective chlorination of titaniferous material such as ilmenite is partially oxidized to obtain a chlorine-rich stream and byproduct iron oxide. Unreacted ferric chloride is separated as solid particles from said stream and at least a portion of said particles are returned to the chlorination operation for absorbing heat generated in such operation.

Abstract: This invention relates to refining platinum group metal concentrates and the separation therefrom of silver and of the majority of base metals with which they naturally occur. In more detail the process comprises the steps of:(a) contacting a solid particulate mixture of base, silver and precious metal components, any of which components may be in metallic or chemically combined form, with a halogen-containing gas at a temperature which is sufficiently high for the base metal and silver components to form their halides and for the said halides substantially to volatilize from the said solid mixture, and(b) removing the said volatilized halides from the solid precious metal-containing component which remains.

Abstract: An improved process for beneficiating titaniferous ore to produce essentially iron-free titanium dioxide wherein a fluidized mixture of ore and a recycled iron-containing partially chlorinated product fraction is contacted with chlorine in a reactor maintained under reducing conditions, at temperatures of 700.degree. to 1150.degree. C. to convert iron oxide in the ore to iron chloride vapor which is removed from the reaction mixture. A quantity of the reaction bed which is partially chlorinated is removed from the reactor, cooled and separated into an essentially pure titanium dioxide fraction and a partially chlorinated iron-containing fraction. The iron-containing fraction is mixed with fresh ore and recycled to the reactor for further processing. The titanium dioxide product is useful as a starting material for the preparation of titanium dioxide pigment and is useful as a coating for a welding rod.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of aluminum chloride and alumina of metallurgical grade purity, and valuable by-products from aluminous ores like clay, bauxites and laterites. The process comprises carbo-chlorination of the ore to produce aluminum chloride and other metal chlorides. The aluminum chloride is separated, purified and utilized as such or oxidized to make alumina while the other metal chlorides are processed to recover maximum values.

Abstract: Recovery of titanium as a titanium tetrachloride from slags produced from ectrosmelting of relatively low content titanium bearing materials such as ilmenites.

Abstract: The dust produced in the chlorination of titaniferous ores comprises essentially particulate ferrous chloride plus solid contaminants including coke and various metal chlorides and oxides and is oxidized in successive stages at relatively low temperatures to recover particulate iron oxide and gaseous chlorine.

Abstract: Removal of iron from aluminous material such as bauxite is effected by treatment with a gas mixture comprising sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide in a first step, followed by chlorination in a second step whereby ferric chloride is produced and removed by volatilization. Aluminium chloride of low iron content may be obtained from the purified aluminous material by chlorination.

Abstract: A carbonylation process involving reacting metallic nickel and a preferential sulfide former in a special chamber with a gas stream containing carbon monoxide and small amounts of hydrogen sulfide, the gases being mixed in or adjacent the chamber, to form a product gas stream containing nickel carbonyl substantially devoid of sulfur compounds.

Abstract: This invention relates to refining platinum group metal concentrates and the separation therefrom of silver and of the majority of base metals which are present with them. In more detail, the process comprises reacting together gaseous hydrogen and chlorine so as to produce a flame and passing into the reaction zone of the said flame the said mineral concentrate in finely divided particulate form.The specification also describes an apparatus for carrying out the above process comprising a tubular burner having a hydrogen-chlorine flame discharging into an inner heat resistant tube and means for maintaining the inner tube at an elevated temperature up to at least 2500.degree. C.

Abstract: A method is provided of continuously producing and recovering metallic chlorides.

Abstract: Artificial rutile of high TiO.sub.2 grade is produced by chlorine treatment of titaniferous ore such as ilmenite which comprises a combination of (1) a pretreatment step in which the ore is oxidized by roasting at a temperature below the sintering temperature thereof thereby to activate the ore, (2) a chloridization step in which the pretreated ore is subjected to a chlorine treatment in a fluidized bed chloridization furnace thereby to chloridize and remove selectively iron oxides within the ore without the formation of TiCl.sub.4, and (3) an aftertreatment step which comprises subjecting the ore to magnetic separation with a magnetic field of at least 20,000 gauses and further treatments thereafter, as necessary, such as a wet table treatment and electrostatic separation at from 5,000 to 30,000 volts.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for separating metal values from an anhydrous mixture of metal halides in a fluid state, i.e. vapor or liquid; the separation is made by contacting a fluid mixture containing a halide of at least one less-noble metal selected from the group consisting of iron and manganese, and a halide of at least one more-noble metal selected from the group consisting of copper, cobalt and nickel, with an elemental metal. This procedure is especially effective in the refining of ocean floor nodule ores.

Abstract: The raw material contains 80% by weight of an alloy of two at least of the metals of the group Fe, Ni, Cr, Cu, Co (and possibly sulphur), in the form of ingots, scrap-metal or mats, in pieces less than 200 mm in size. The alloys are firstly subjected to a chlorination operation at a temperature comprised between 600.degree.C and 1350.degree.C and then to the recovery operation for the chlorides formed. An enclosure, called a chlorination enclosure, is charged with (a) the alloy, (b) a gaseous mixture containing chlorine and HCl, (c) oxygen, and (d) at least one agent for regulating the temperature of the enclosure. The composition of the gaseous mixture, when it is constituted at the same time of Cl.sub.2 and of HCl, responds to the following conditions:5 % < the proportion of Cl.sub.2 < 90 %1 % < the proportion of HCl < 75 %1 % < the proportion of O.sub.2 < 35 %the partial pressures satisfying on their part the following conditions:2P.sub.Cl.sbsb.2 + P.sub.HCl > 0.2 atmosphere, andP.sub.