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).

Processes for producing copper granules on a surface of a reducing metal. The process can include contacting the reducing metal with an aqueous solution comprising a copper(II) salt and a halide. The molar ratio of the halide to the copper(II) in the copper (II) salt can be at least about 3:1. The granular copper can be produced on a surface of the reducing metal, and is optionally removed from the surface of the reducing metal by shaking, washing, and/or brushing, and/or optionally with stirring and/or circulating of the aqeuous solution.

The invention relates to a method for extracting metal from metal-containing raw material in a batch process by using a direct current electric arc furnace (100) having one or more than one top electrode (125) and at least one bottom electrode (115), wherein the method comprises the following steps: adding the metal-containing raw material to the furnace (100), thereby obtaining a loaded bath, moving the top electrode(s) (125) onto the raw material, heating the loaded bath in a heating step by applying direct current through the top electrode(s) to provide an arc to melt the raw material, thereby obtaining molten metal (202), wherein an average voltage during the heating step is from 20 V to 110 V, and forming solid metal from the molten metal (202). The invention further relates to a direct current electric arc furnace, a system comprising a direct current electric arc furnace, and a solid metal obtainable by the method.

An operation method of a copper-smelting furnace is characterized by including supplying an Fe metal source into a copper-smelting furnace together with a feeding material including copper concentrate and a flux, the copper concentrate including Al, the Fe metal source including an Fe metal of 40 mass % to 100 mass %.

An operation method of a copper-smelting furnace is characterized by including supplying an Fe metal source into a copper-smelting furnace together with a feeding material including copper concentrate and a flux, the copper concentrate including Al, the Fe metal source including an Fe metal of 40 mass % to 100 mass %.

Apparatuses and methods of making titanium or a titanium alloy which include providing a first feed material and a carbon source material to a first reaction chamber in which the first feed material includes a solid aluminum oxide. The method also includes heating the first feed material and the carbon source material to reduce the solid aluminum oxide to one or more gaseous species including aluminum. The method also includes providing the one or more gaseous species including aluminum to a second reaction chamber, the second reaction chamber containing a second feed material which includes a solid titanium oxide. The method also includes reducing the solid titanium oxide with the one or more gaseous species including aluminum to form molten titanium metal or molten titanium alloy.

Apparatuses and methods of making titanium or a titanium alloy which include providing a first feed material and a carbon source material to a first reaction chamber in which the first feed material includes a solid aluminum oxide. The method also includes heating the first feed material and the carbon source material to reduce the solid aluminum oxide to one or more gaseous species including aluminum. The method also includes providing the one or more gaseous species including aluminum to a second reaction chamber, the second reaction chamber containing a second feed material which includes a solid titanium oxide. The method also includes reducing the solid titanium oxide with the one or more gaseous species including aluminum to form molten titanium metal or molten titanium alloy.

According to an embodiment, a nuclear fuel material recovery method of recovering a nuclear fuel material containing thorium metal by reprocessing an oxide of a nuclear fuel material containing thorium oxide in a spent fuel is provided. The method has: a first electrolytic reduction step of electrolytically reducing thorium oxide in a first molten salt of alkaline-earth metal halide; a first reduction product washing step of washing a reduction product; and a main electrolytic separation step of separating the reduction product. The first molten salt further contains alkali metal halide, and contains at least one out of a group consisting of calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium fluoride and magnesium fluoride. The method may further has a second electrolytic reduction step of electrolytically reducing uranium oxide, plutonium oxide, and minor actinoid oxide in a second molten salt of alkali metal halide.

An operation method of a copper-smelting furnace is characterized by including supplying an Fe metal source into a copper-smelting furnace together with a feeding material including copper concentrate and a flux, the copper concentrate including Al, the Fe metal source including an Fe metal of 40 mass % to 100 mass %.