Method for selectively oxidizing metals of an alloy

A method of selectively oxidizing one or more target metals in an alloy comprising at least one target and at least one non-target metal, the method comprising the steps of:

• i) exposing the alloy to a temperature in the range of 1150-2000° C. that is about 15-25% less than the melting temperature of the alloy in the presence of a pressurized oxygenated atomizing gas comprising 15-100% oxygen to melt the alloy and to result in simultaneous fragmentation and oxidation of the molten alloy using a thermal spray device under conditions sufficient to yield an oxidation potential that oxidizes one or more target metals in the alloy and does not oxidize the non-target metal;
• and
• ii) allowing the treated alloy to solidify to yield solidified oxidized target metal and solidified unoxidized non-target metal, wherein the oxidized target metal and unoxidized non-target metal are each in a form which permit collection of the oxidized target metal and the unoxidized non-target metal separately.