The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation Limited

Northwest University

Atomic Energy Corporation of South Africa Limited

Johannes Theodorus Nel

Willem Liebenberg Retief

Wilhelmina Du Plessis

Johannes Petrus Le Roux

Izak Jacobus Van Der Walt

Philippus Lodewyk Crouse

Alfred Teo Grunenberg

Sanette Marx

Johan Louis Havenga

Odolphus Simon Leo Bruinsma

Marco Le Roux

Henning Manfred Krieg

Willem Dempers Retief

Nelius Dempers Retief

A process for treating a zirconium containing feedstock includes fluorinating a feedstock comprising dissociated zircon ('DZ') to obtain a zirconium fluorine compound and a silicon fluorine compound. The zirconium fluorine compound is separated from the silicon fluorine compound is provided. Optionally, the zirconium fluorine compound is reacted with a non-fluorine halogen, an alkali metal non-fluorine halide or an alkaline-earth metal non-fluorine halide, thereby to obtain a zirconium non-fluorine halide. The zirconium fluorine compound or, when present, the zirconium non-fluorine halide is subjected to plasma reduction, in a plasma reduction stage, in the presence of a reductant, to obtain metallic zirconium.

Treatment of chemical feedstocks

A process for treating a feedstock is provided. The feedstock comprises a mineral and/or a metal oxide/silicate derived from or associated with a mineral. The process comprises treating the feedstock by reacting, in a reaction step, the mineral and/or the metal oxide/silicate derived from or associated with a mineral, with an ammonium acid fluoride having the generic formula NHF.xHF, wherein 1&#x3c;x&#x2266;5. An ammonium fluorometallate compound is produced as a reaction product.

Treatment of minerals

A process for treating a zirconia-based material comprises reacting, in a reaction step, the zirconia-based material with ammonium bifluoride, NHF.HF. An ammonium fluorozirconic compound is produced.

Treatment of zirconia-based material with ammonium bi-fluoride

A process for recovering a gaseous component comprising at least one fluorine-containing compound from a mixture of gaseous compounds. The process includes, in a separation zone (), bringing a mixture of gaseous constituents, including at least one fluorine-containing constituent, into contact with a gas permeable separating medium () comprising a polymeric compound, so that a first gaseous component comprising at least one fluorine-containing constituent is separated from a second gaseous component comprising the balance of the gaseous constituents. The first gaseous component is withdrawn from the separation zone as a permeate () or a retentate, while the second gaseous component is withdrawn from the separation zone as the retentate (), when the first gaseous component is withdrawn as the permeate, and as the permeate, when the first gaseous component is withdrawn as the retentate.

Recovery of a gaseous component from a mixture of gaseous compounds

A process for depolymerizing fluoropolymers includes continuously feeding a solid fluoropolymer, in particulate form, into a horizontal cylindrical first reaction zone. The fluoropolymer particles enter the first reaction zone at one end. Within the first reaction zone, a central axle from which protrudes at least one paddle, continuously rotates. The rotating paddle serves to advance the fluoropolymer particles along the reaction zone while agitating them. As the fluoropolymer particles pass along the reaction zone, they are subjected to an elevated temperature, thereby depolymerizing the fluoropolymer into a fluoro-containing compound-rich gas phase. A residual solids phase is withdrawn at the other end of the first reaction zone, as is the gas phase. Optionally, the gas phase is passed through a second reaction zone which is also at an elevated temperature. The gas phase is quenched, thereby to recover the fluoro-containing compounds as gaseous products.

Depolymerization of fluoropolymers

Process for reacting a zirconia based material

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Kempton Park, South Africa

Johannes Theodorus Nel