Patent ID: 9090954
Filing Date: 2015-07-28
Classification: C22B

Abstract:
1. A process for the production of a metal which comprises: carbothermal reduction of a metal oxide corresponding to the metal to produce a mixed gas stream comprising the metal and carbon monoxide; maintaining the mixed gas stream at a suitably elevated temperature to prevent reformation of the metal oxide; ejecting the mixed gas stream through a convergent-divergent nozzle of a reactor in order to cool the mixed gas stream instantaneously to a temperature at which reformation of the metal oxide cannot take place; and separating and collecting the metal, wherein the convergent-divergent nozzle of the reactor is heated by induction coils that are arranged around the nozzle, such that surfaces of the nozzle in contact with the mixed gas stream are maintained at a temperature sufficient to prevent deposition on the said surfaces of products from the gas stream.