Patent ID: 9181604
Filing Date: 2015-11-10
Classification: C22B,C25B,C25C

Abstract:
1. A method of producing titanium, comprising: providing an oxide of titanium in the form of an ore or ore concentrate comprising at least 90 wt % titanium oxide and impurities in the form of oxides of silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, and chromium, the ore or ore concentrate having a level of impurities of at least 1.0 wt %, including at least 0.1 wt % calcium oxide and/or at least 0.1 wt % iron oxide; reacting the oxide of titanium to form a titanium oxycarbide; and electrolysing the titanium oxycarbide in a molten salt electrolyte comprising a chloride of an alkali or alkali-earth metal, with the titanium oxycarbide configured as an anode; recovering a refined titanium metal from a cathode in the electrolyte, the refined titanium metal having a level of impurities of less than 0.5 wt %; and removing impurities from the electrolyte by treating the molten salt with titanium.