Processes for preparing alumina and various other products

A process for preparing alumina, said process comprising:

• leaching an aluminum-containing material with HCl so as to obtain a leachate comprising aluminum ions and a solid, and separating said solid from said leachate to obtain a solid-depleted leachate and a separated solid;
• reacting said solid-depleted leachate with HCl so as to obtain a liquid and a precipitate comprising said aluminum ions in the form of AlCl3.6H2O, and separating said precipitate from said liquid to obtain a liquid-depleted precipitate;
• heating said liquid-depleted precipitate under conditions effective for converting AlCl3.6H2O into Al2O3 and producing HCl;
• and
• leaching said separated solid with HCl at a concentration of less than 20% by weight, at a temperature of less than 85° C., in the presence of MgCl to solubilise TiO2 and to obtain a silica-depleted leachate and a titanium-depleted solid, separating said silica-depleted leachate from said titanium-depleted solid and recovering SiO2 and TiO2.