Patent ID: 7504017

Claim:
A method for electrowinning titanium metal or titanium alloy from conductive titanium oxide containing compounds selected from titanium oxides, ferro-titanium oxides, titanium compounds and mixtures thereof, said method comprising: (a) providing the conductive titanium oxide containing compound at temperatures corresponding to the liquid state so as to provide a molten material; (b) pouring the molten material into an electrochemical reactor to form a pool of electronically conductive liquid acting as molten cathode material; (c) covering the molten cathode material with a layer of a molten salt electrolyte, hence providing an interface between the molten cathode material and the electrolyte; (d) providing at least one anode in direct contact with said molten salt electrolyte, said anode(s) being operatively connected to an electrical current source; (e) deoxidizing electrochemically the molten cathode at the interface with the electrolyte by electrolysis induced by said current source and circulating between the anode and cathode; (f) recovering the resulting titanium metal or titanium alloy.