Metal reduction process

Abstract

An improved metal reduction process permits the efficient production of metal from reducible metal compounds by means of reducing metal. Broadly, the invention relates to conducting the reaction between a reducible metal compound and a reducing metal in approximately stoichiometric amounts in an inner beneficial metal container, separated from the exterior reactor walls by an insulating material. In a preferred embodiment, the reducible metal compound and stoichiometric amount of a reducing metal are introduced into a container formed from a metal the same as the desired metal being produced or a metal alloyable therewith. The container is retained in a reaction vessel being separated from the walls of the reaction vessel by an inert insulating material. The container is then heated to a temperature which is above the melting point of the reducing metal but below the temperature at which a reduction reaction between the reducible metal compound and the molten reducing metal will proceed spontaneously. In this temperature range, a reduction reaction is initiated between the reducible metal compound and the molten reducing metal by suddenly disrupting the surface of the molten reducing metal and allowing the reduction reaction to continue to completion. The container in which the reactants have been placed may remain intact or may melt and co-mingle with the product of the reduction reaction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.