The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation Limited

Willem Liebenberg Retief

Johannes Theodorus Nel

Wilhelmina Du Plessis

Johannes Petrus Le Roux

Philippus Lodewyk Crouse

Johan Louis Havenga

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.

Growing community of inventors

Auburn Hills, MI, United States of America

Willem Liebenberg Retief