A method to extract and refine metal products from metal-bearing ores, including a method to extract and refine titanium products. Titanium products can be extracted from titanium-bearing ores with TiO.sub.2 and impurity levels unsuitable for conventional methods.

A method to extract and refine metal products from metal-bearing ores, including a method to extract and refine titanium products. Titanium products can be extracted from titanium-bearing ores with TiO.sub.2 and impurity levels unsuitable for conventional methods.

In a method for removing a substance from a feedstock comprising a solid metal or a solid metal compound, the feedstock is contacted with a fused-salt melt. The fused-salt melt contains a fused salt, a reactive-metal compound, and a reactive metal. The fused salt comprises an anion species which is different from the substance, the reactive-metal compound comprises the reactive metal and the substance, and the reactive metal is capable of reaction to remove at least some of the substance from the feedstock. A cathode and an anode contact the melt, and the feedstock contacts the cathode. An electrical current is applied between the cathode and the anode such that at least a portion of the substance is removed from the feedstock. During the application of the current, a quantity of the reactive metal in the melt is maintained sufficient to prevent oxidation of the anion species of the fused salt at the anode. The method may advantageously be usable for removing the substance from successive batches of the feedstock, where the applied current is controlled such that the fused-salt melt after processing a batch contains the quantity of the reactive metal sufficient to prevent oxidation of the anion species at the anode.

In a method for removing a substance from a feedstock comprising a solid metal or a solid metal compound, the feedstock is contacted with a fused-salt melt. The fused-salt melt contains a fused salt, a reactive-metal compound, and a reactive metal. The fused salt comprises an anion species which is different from the substance, the reactive-metal compound comprises the reactive metal and the substance, and the reactive metal is capable of reaction to remove at least some of the substance from the feedstock. A cathode and an anode contact the melt, and the feedstock contacts the cathode. An electrical current is applied between the cathode and the anode such that at least a portion of the substance is removed from the feedstock. During the application of the current, a quantity of the reactive metal in the melt is maintained sufficient to prevent oxidation of the anion species of the fused salt at the anode. The method may advantageously be usable for removing the substance from successive batches of the feedstock, where the applied current is controlled such that the fused-salt melt after processing a batch contains the quantity of the reactive metal sufficient to prevent oxidation of the anion species at the anode.

A process is disclosed for the electro-refinement of titanium aluminides to produce titanium-aluminum master alloys which process is effective even in the presence of substantial amounts of aluminum and in the presence of ten (10) or more weight percent oxygen in the material(s) to be refined. The process is likewise effective without the addition of titanium chlorides or other forms of soluble titanium to the electrolyte bath comprising halide salts of alkali metals or alkali-earth metals or a combination thereof.

A process is disclosed for the electro-refinement of titanium aluminides to produce titanium-aluminum master alloys which process is effective even in the presence of substantial amounts of aluminum and in the presence of ten (10) or more weight percent oxygen in the material(s) to be refined. The process is likewise effective without the addition of titanium chlorides or other forms of soluble titanium to the electrolyte bath comprising halide salts of alkali metals or alkali-earth metals or a combination thereof.

A method of producing titanium metal with titanium-containing material which includes mixing, pressing and drying the titanium-containing material with a carbonaceous reducing agent to obtain a resultant as a first anode. Using a metal or an alloy as a first cathode, and using an alkali metal chloride molten salt and/or an alkaline earth metal chloride molten salt as a first electrolyte to constitute a first electrolysis system, to perform pre-electrolysis in an inert atmosphere to obtain a residual anode. After the residual anode is washed, molded and dried, using the residual anode as a second anode, using a metal or an alloy as a second cathode, using an alkali metal chloride molten salt and/or an alkaline earth metal chloride molten salt as a second electrolyte to constitute a second electrolysis system, to perform electrolysis in an inert atmosphere to obtain titanium metal powder.

A method of producing titanium metal with titanium-containing material which includes mixing, pressing and drying the titanium-containing material with a carbonaceous reducing agent to obtain a resultant as a first anode. Using a metal or an alloy as a first cathode, and using an alkali metal chloride molten salt and/or an alkaline earth metal chloride molten salt as a first electrolyte to constitute a first electrolysis system, to perform pre-electrolysis in an inert atmosphere to obtain a residual anode. After the residual anode is washed, molded and dried, using the residual anode as a second anode, using a metal or an alloy as a second cathode, using an alkali metal chloride molten salt and/or an alkaline earth metal chloride molten salt as a second electrolyte to constitute a second electrolysis system, to perform electrolysis in an inert atmosphere to obtain titanium metal powder.

The system includes a raw material predrying kiln, a preheating kiln, a reduction rotary kiln, a cooling rotary kiln, a ball mill, a magnetic separator, a reduced iron powder drying kiln, a blank prefabricator, a blank drying kiln, a sintering furnace, a fused salt electrolysis tank, a titanium cleaning device, a filtering device, a vacuum dryer, a waste heat boiler, and a steam turbine generator. In the present disclosure, a high-temperature flue gas produced by the reduction rotary kiln is directly used to preheat a raw material. The CO-containing high-temperature flue gas discharged by the reduction rotary kiln and the CO discharged at the fused salt electrolysis stage are recovered and used for power generation and steam production of the waste heat boiler. Due to a low moisture content of the flue gas, a low-temperature flue gas obtained after the waste heat recovery is used for drying.

The system includes a raw material predrying kiln, a preheating kiln, a reduction rotary kiln, a cooling rotary kiln, a ball mill, a magnetic separator, a reduced iron powder drying kiln, a blank prefabricator, a blank drying kiln, a sintering furnace, a fused salt electrolysis tank, a titanium cleaning device, a filtering device, a vacuum dryer, a waste heat boiler, and a steam turbine generator. In the present disclosure, a high-temperature flue gas produced by the reduction rotary kiln is directly used to preheat a raw material. The CO-containing high-temperature flue gas discharged by the reduction rotary kiln and the CO discharged at the fused salt electrolysis stage are recovered and used for power generation and steam production of the waste heat boiler. Due to a low moisture content of the flue gas, a low-temperature flue gas obtained after the waste heat recovery is used for drying.