A method of producing a composite material comprising: supplying a metal compound (M.sub.PC) of a product metal (M.sub.P) and a reductant (R) capable of reducing the metal compound (M.sub.PC) of the product metal (MP) to a reactor; forming a composite material comprising a matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.0) of the reductant (R), the product metal (M.sub.P) dispersed in the matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.0), and at least one of (i) one or more metal compounds (M.sub.PC.sub.R) of the metal compound (M.sub.PC) in one or more oxidation states and (ii) the reductant (R); and recovering the composite material from the reactor, wherein the metal compound (M.sub.PC) of the product metal (M.sub.P) is fed to the reactor such that it is in excess relative to the reductant (R).

A method of producing a composite material comprising: supplying a metal compound (M.sub.PC) of a product metal (M.sub.P) and a reductant (R) capable of reducing the metal compound (M.sub.PC) of the product metal (MP) to a reactor; forming a composite material comprising a matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.0) of the reductant (R), the product metal (M.sub.P) dispersed in the matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.0), and at least one of (i) one or more metal compounds (M.sub.PC.sub.R) of the metal compound (M.sub.PC) in one or more oxidation states and (ii) the reductant (R); and recovering the composite material from the reactor, wherein the metal compound (M.sub.PC) of the product metal (M.sub.P) is fed to the reactor such that it is in excess relative to the reductant (R).

The invention provides a method for reducing impurities from roasted molybdenum concentrate (RMC), comprising: performing a first treatment in a first reactor, on a portion of the RMC forming a first treated suspension, the first treatment comprises adding the portion of the RMC to a water-solution, wherein the first treated suspension has a temperature from 10° C. to 100° C. and a first pH value of from 2.1 to 5.0; performing a second treatment in a second reactor on a portion of the first treated suspension, the second treatment comprises adding the portion of the first treated suspension to an acid solution to form the second treated suspension, wherein the portion of the first treated suspension has a temperature <70° C., and wherein the second treated suspension has a second pH value between 1.5 and the first pH value; and separating a portion of the second treated suspension from the reactors.

A method for the recovery of vanadium from a vanadium containing feed stream, the method comprising the steps of: subjecting the vanadium feed stream to a leach step, the leach step comprising contacting the vanadium feed stream with an alkaline carbonate leach solution to form a leach slurry comprising a pregnant leach solution containing vanadium and a solid residue; passing the leach slurry to a solid/liquid separation step to produce a pregnant leach solution containing vanadium; and recovering a vanadium product from the pregnant leach solution.

A method for the recovery of vanadium from a vanadium containing feed stream, the method comprising the steps of: subjecting the vanadium feed stream to a leach step, the leach step comprising contacting the vanadium feed stream with an alkaline carbonate leach solution to form a leach slurry comprising a pregnant leach solution containing vanadium and a solid residue; passing the leach slurry to a solid/liquid separation step to produce a pregnant leach solution containing vanadium; and recovering a vanadium product from the pregnant leach solution.

A process for recovering titanium dioxide from a titanium-bearing material, the process including the steps of: leaching the titanium-bearing material in a first leaching step at atmospheric pressure and at a temperature of 70 to 97° C. with a first lixiviant to produce a first leach solution comprising undissolved first leach solids that include a titanium content and a first leach liquor, the first lixiviant comprising hydrochloric acid at a concentration of less than 23% w/w; separating the first leach liquor and the undissolved first leach solids; leaching the first leach solids in a second leaching step at atmospheric pressure and at a temperature of 60 to 80° C. with a second lixiviant in the presence of a Fe powder reductant to produce a second leach solution comprising undissolved second each solids and a second leach liquor that includes a leached titanium content and iron content, the second lixiviant comprising a mixed chloride solution comprising less than 23% w/w hydrochloric acid and an additional chloride selected from alkali metal chlorides, magnesium chloride and calcium chloride, or mixtures thereof; separating the second leach liquor and the undissolved second leach solids; and thereafter separating the titanium dioxide and the iron content from the second leach liquor by precipitation, and regenerating the second lixiviant for recycle to the second leaching step.

A process for recovering titanium dioxide from a titanium-bearing material, the process including the steps of: leaching the titanium-bearing material in a first leaching step at atmospheric pressure and at a temperature of 70 to 97° C. with a first lixiviant to produce a first leach solution comprising undissolved first leach solids that include a titanium content and a first leach liquor, the first lixiviant comprising hydrochloric acid at a concentration of less than 23% w/w; separating the first leach liquor and the undissolved first leach solids; leaching the first leach solids in a second leaching step at atmospheric pressure and at a temperature of 60 to 80° C. with a second lixiviant in the presence of a Fe powder reductant to produce a second leach solution comprising undissolved second each solids and a second leach liquor that includes a leached titanium content and iron content, the second lixiviant comprising a mixed chloride solution comprising less than 23% w/w hydrochloric acid and an additional chloride selected from alkali metal chlorides, magnesium chloride and calcium chloride, or mixtures thereof; separating the second leach liquor and the undissolved second leach solids; and thereafter separating the titanium dioxide and the iron content from the second leach liquor by precipitation, and regenerating the second lixiviant for recycle to the second leaching step.

The invention provides for the orchestrated treatment of disparate fractions of a shale deposit to recover vanadium values, with distinct steps of beneficiation that together provide a combined vanadium-enriched concentrate amenable to subsequent combined steps of hydrometallurgical vanadium extraction.

A method (10) for preparing a leach feed material, the method (10) comprising the steps of: passing an ore or concentrate containing vanadium and iron to a reduction step (12) to form a reduced ore or concentrate; and passing the reduced ore or concentrate to a ferric leach step (14) to produce a ferric leachate containing iron and a ferric leach residue containing vanadium,
wherein the ferric leach residue is suitable for use as the leach feed material for extracting and recovering vanadium.

A method (10) for preparing a leach feed material, the method (10) comprising the steps of: passing an ore or concentrate containing vanadium and iron to a reduction step (12) to form a reduced ore or concentrate; and passing the reduced ore or concentrate to a ferric leach step (14) to produce a ferric leachate containing iron and a ferric leach residue containing vanadium,
wherein the ferric leach residue is suitable for use as the leach feed material for extracting and recovering vanadium.