Titanium-magnesium production

Plugging solution for low temperature wells—contains plugging cement, water and molten chloride melt obtained as waste from titanium-magnesium production as complex chloride additive. Patent RU 1091616-C, 1995. 

Due to absence of rich scandium raw minerals, scandium extraction is a complex process closely connected with the separation from impurities present on the leaching solutions. Chloride wastes after titanium-magnesium production (TMP) may be considered as a resource for scandium recovery. These wastes are highly mineralized hydrochloric pulps containing 0.08-0.1 g/L of Sc, more than 8 mol/L of HCl, and a large quantity of solid particles. 

The TVEX-TBP scandium extraction process from highly concentrated hydrochloric pulps with high content of solid particles and high silica content allowed for the exclusion of pulp filtration, reduction of tri-butylphosphate consumption and extractant loss with emulsions, and increase of extraction of aimed component. The introduction of TVEX-Sc-process at Ust -Kamenogorsk titanium-magnesium production union (Kazakhstan) made it possible to reduce completely the impact on the Irtysh River due to reduction of TBP contents on plant effluents with a reduction on tons of TBP per year in comparison with the established TBP solvent extraction process. 

V. Korovin, Y. Pogorelov, and A. Chikodanov, Scandium extraction by TVEX-TBP from titanium-magnesium production wastes, Proc. ISEC 93, 2,173-178 (1993). 

If polymerization catalysts, for instance for alkenc polymerization (Zicglcr-Natta-type catalysts), are prepared by precipitation methods, they can be formed by precipitation from organic solvents, as claimed in several patents [22], In these patents the precipitation of titanium-magnesium compounds in THF with hexane as precipitating agent is used for the formation of the catalyst. Many important Zicgler-Natta initiators are solids, and heterogeneous initiator systems seem to be necessary for the production of isotactic polyalkenes [23]. However, not much information on the details of catalyst preparation is available in the open literature. 

A titanium sponge production process was originally developed by KrolP - 27.28, 29 using titanium tetrachloride and magnesium. The technique has since been applied to zirconium, 30,31,32 33 vanadium, and... 

These metals are all produced by electrolysis of a mixture of molten metal chlorides the electrolyte composition is selected to minimize the process temperature and to ensure that it is the desired metal that is discharged at the cathode. The estimated annual world production of sodium and magnesium is a few hundred thousand tons while that for lithium is only a few thousand tons. The major uses are (a) sodium-manufacture of lead alkyls, isolation of titanium metal, production of several organic and inorganic substances (b) magnesium-organic synthesis, metal alloys (c) lithium - polymer initiation, organic synthesis and batteries. 

Reactions of HCl and nitrides, borides, silicides, germanides, carbides, and sulfides take place at significant rates only at elevated (>650° C) temperatures. The products are the metal chlorides and the corresponding hydrides. The reactions most studied are those involving nitrides of aluminum, magnesium, calcium, and titanium, where ammonia (qv) is formed along with the corresponding metal chloride. 

Preparation and Manufacture. Magnesium chloride can be produced in large quantities from (/) camalhte or the end brines of the potash industry (see Potassium compounds) (2) magnesium hydroxide precipitated from seawater (7) by chlorination of magnesium oxide from various sources in the presence of carbon or carbonaceous materials and (4) as a by-product in the manufacture of titanium (see Titaniumand titanium alloys). 

The recovery of vanadium from these slags is of commercial interest because of the depletion of easily accessible ores and the comparatively low concentrations (ranging from less than 100 ppm to 500 ppm) of vanadium in natural deposits (147,148). In the LILCO appHcations the total ash contained up to 36% 20 (147). Vanadium is of value in the manufacture of high strength steels and specialized titanium alloys used in the aerospace industry (148,149). Magnesium vanadates allow the recovery of vanadium as a significant by-product of fuel use by electric utiUties (see Recycling, nonferrous LffiTALS). 

Condensation of metal vapors followed by deposition on cooler surfaces yields metal powders as does decomposition of metal hydrides. Vacuum treatment of metal hydrides gives powders of fine particle size. Reaction of a metal haHde and molten magnesium, known as the KroU process, is used for titanium and zirconium. This results in a sponge-like product. 

The 1990s reduction process was based on work started in the early 1930s. A magnesium vacuum reduction process was developed for reduction of titanium tetrachloride to metal. Based on this process, the U.S. Bureau of Mines (BOM) initiated a program in 1940 to develop commercial production. Some years later, the BOM pubHcized its work on titanium and made samples available to the industrial community. By 1948, the BOM produced batch sizes of 104 kg. In the same year, Du Pont aimounced commercial availabiHty of titanium, thus beginning the modem titanium metals industry (1). 

Alternative methods of production include reduction of HO2 with magnesium, which yields TiO only. When titanium monoxide is heated in air at 150—200°C, titanium sesquioxide, Ti202, forms, and at 250—350°C, it changes to Ti O. ... 

Both processes also use up-graded ilmenite (slags). About 30% of the world s titanium feedstocks are suppHed by titanium slag producers in Canada, South Africa, and Norway. Slags are formed by the high temperature reduction of ilmenites in electric furnaces. Much of the iron oxide content is reduced to metallic iron and separated as a saleable by-product. Magnesium and other impurities may also be incorporated in the following equations. 

---