The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation Limited

Wilhelmina Du Plessis

Johannes Theodorus Nel

Willem Liebenberg Retief

Johannes Petrus Le Roux

Philippus Lodewyk Crouse

Johan Louis Havenga

Nelius Dempers Retief

Willem 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

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Centurion, South Africa

Wilhelmina Du Plessis