Process for transition metal oxide reduction

A process for the reduction of a transition metal oxide, the process comprising:

• (a) providing at least one transition metal oxide having the formula MTnOm, wherein each one of n and m is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, where MT is Fe;
• a first-row transition metal selected from:
• Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn;
• (b) contacting the transition metal oxide with an alkali metal (MA) in a reactor, and adjusting the temperature within the reactor to a temperature T, to induce a two-reaction sequence of the reaction schemes I and II:
• MTnOm+2m+MA→m×MA2O+n×MT;
• I:
• MA2O→2×MA+0.5O2;
• II:
• so that a net reaction, III, resulting from said two-reaction sequence does not consume the alkali metal,
• MTnOm→n×MT+0.5m×O2;
• III:
• and a resulting reaction mixture comprises a reduced transition metal, MT, or alloy thereof, the alkali metal, and optionally oxygen;
• wherein MA is Na or K;
• and wherein temperature T is above the melting point of the alkali metal and equal or above the decomposition temperature of MA2O;
• and
• (c) isolating the reduced transition metal or alloy thereof, from the reaction mixture.