Supercritical fluid metal halide separation process

A process for separating, purifying and recovering metal halide from a mixture, using supercritical fluids comprising:

• placing a mixture containing metal halides in an autoclave;
• passing a supercritical fluid selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, ethane, propane, fluorocarbons, pentane, chlorofluorocarbons, and mixtures thereof at temperatures from about 15.degree. to about 400.degree. C. and at pressures from about 700 to about 25,000 psig through the mixture;
• removing said supercritical fluid and a more soluble metal halide dissolved in said supercritical fluid;
• altering process variables selected from the class of temperature and pressure to effect precipitation of the more soluble metal halide dissolved in said supercritical fluid;
• and
• recovering the less soluble metal halide residue remaining in the autoclave.