Method for producing a metal from its halide

Abstract

A method for producing metal by the reduction of a metal halide by a reducing metal agent capable of continuously producing homogeneous metal of high purity. In the method, particles of the same metal as the metal to be produced are charged into a reaction vessel and the metal halide and the reducing metal agent both in vapor form, are ejected upwards into the reaction vessel from its lower portion to form a fluidized bed of the metal particles in the vessel. The reducing reaction between the two vapors takes place on the surface of the metal particles at a temperature below the melting point of the metal product and at a pressure below a vapor pressure of each of the reducing metal agent and the metal halide at that temperature, resulting in depositing and growing the metal product on the surface of the particles.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.