Becher process

D.M. (1990) Transformations of iron oxide by-products during the Becher process. The Aus. IMM Proceedings No. 1 53-59... 

SREP [Synthetic Rutile Enhancement Process] An improved version of the Becher process for upgrading titanium ores. It is designed to reduce the level of radioactive contamination in the product. Developed in the early 1990s by Renison Goldfields, Australia, in collaboration with the CSIRO, Perth, and first operated in Narngulu in 1996. 

An important modification of the Becher process is the development of the Synthetic Rutile Enhancement Process (SREP) route, using various leaching methods to reduce the level of radioactivity in the synthetic rutile product to internationally acceptable levels. 

Figure 10.8 The Becher process kiln with onboard fans. (Courtesy of Outotec Oyi.)...

J.H. Schneibel, R. Subramanian, K.B. Alexander and P.F. Becher, Processing and properties of FeAl-bonded composites, in International Symposium on Nickel and Iron Aluminides, S.C. Deevi (ed.), ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 1997, p. 329. 

Hirscher, M., M. Becher, M. Haluska, U. Detlaff-Weglikowska, A. Quintel, G.S. Duesberg, Y.M. Coi, P. Downes, M. Hulman, S. Roth, I. Stepanek, P. Bernier, Hydrogen storage in sonicated carbon materials. Appl. Phys. A Mater. Sci. Process. 72(2), 129-132, 2001. 

The process was invented and developed in Australia in the 1960s, initially by R. G. Becher at the Mineral Processing Laboratories of the West Australian Government Chemical Centre, and later by Western Titanium. In 1998 it was operating in three companies at four sites in Western Australia. Most of the beneficiate is used for the manufacture of titanium pigments some is used in titanium metal production and in welding rod coatings. Annual production in 1997 was approximately 600,000 tonnes. 

Woetting G, Feuer H, Gugel E (1993) The Influence of Powders and Processing Methods on Microstructure and Properties of Dense Silicon Nitride. In Chen IW, Becher PF, Mitomo M, Petzow G, Yen TS (eds) Silicon Nitride Ceramics, Mat Res Soc Symp Proc 287. Mat Res Soc, Pittsburgh, p 133... 

My Becher s furnace answers much better than I expected, and I have succeeded in one important process, and am now upon another. No one, who has not tried, can conceive the extreme difficulty and care required as to practical details. I am sure the proper way is to begin young, have a laboratory, and learn all the ways of subliming, precipitating, revivifying, c c c. I know the theory now well enough, but the practical details bother me sorely with the many interruptions I have. Still, I might succeed at any time. 

I had just time to go to the Brit. Mus. Rusenstein is there, but only in German, so that is of no use to me. I copied a Process out of Jo. Joachim Becher from his Experimentum Chymicum Novum . 

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