Kerr-mcgee Corporation

Dennis A Brunsell

Olen L Riggs, Jr

A process for beneficiating ilmenite ore using electrolytic reduction. The ilmenite ore is admixed with an acidic solution to form a mixture. The mixture is electrolytically reduced to convert at least a portion of any ferric iron that is present to ferrous iron. The acidic solution dissolves the ferrous iron in the ilmenite ore and yields beneficiated ilmenite having a relatively high titanium dioxide content.

Process for the electrolytic reductive leaching of ilmenite ore

A process for oxidizing a metal of variable valence to a higher valence state by electrochemical means. More particularly, a process for oxidizing a metal of variable valence, such as, for example, uranium or vanadium contained in wet process phosphoric acid to a higher valence state for extraction by subsequent contact with complex organic extractants. The wet process phosphoric acid is oxidized in an electrolytic cell operated at a controlled potential via use of a reference electrode. The cell comprises a tank having at least one anode and at least one cathode, said anode and cathode having a ratio of surface areas exposed to the electrolyte in said cell of from at least about 100:1.

Process for oxidizing a metal of variable valence by controlled

The present invention provides a process for rapidly and efficiently oxidizing either or both vanadium and uranium from the trivalent and guadrivalent oxidation states, respectively, to the pentavelent and hexavalent oxidation states, respectively, through the use of a special electrode. The electrode is produced by anodically treating a substrate material selected from the group of titanium, zirconium, niobium, hafnium and alloys thereof in an aqueous electrolyte. The electrolyte comprises an aqueous solution of manganous ion in a concentration of from about 15 to 50 gm/l and from about 10 to 40 gm/l sulfuric acid. Manganese dioxide is electrodeposited on the substrate to form the electrode. The manganese dioxide coated electrode then is placed in an oxidation cell as an anode wherein it is potentiostaticly controlled to oxidize either or both vanadium and uranium without significant anode deterioration and without oxygen generation at the anode.

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Oklahoma City, OK, United States of America

Dennis A Brunsell