Patent · US Expired

Electrolytic recovery system for obtaining titanium metal from its ore

US4487677A · kind A · utility

47Cited by
7References
39Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 11, 1983
Grant dateDec 11, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 11, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P10/20
  • WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An apparatus including a single electrolytic/reaction cell, for extraction of titanium sponge from rutile ore. Magnesium chloride is electrolytically separated into magnesium metal and chlorine gas within the cell. The chlorine gas produced is reacted with rutile ore and coke to produce titanium tetrachloride in a separate chlorinator and the product is directed to the cell subsequent to completion of electrolysis. Titanium tetrachloride is reacted with magnesium metal in the same cell where the magnesium is produced to form titanium sponge and magnesium chloride. The titanium sponge is separated within said cell with the magnesium chloride being recovered and recycled. Major impurities are separated by distillation. Plural electrolytic cells can be coupled to a single chlorinator in a continuous process. Very pure titanium sponge is produced with this self-replenishing process.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.