METHODS FOR REDUCING IMPURITIES IN MAGNESIUM PURIFIED MAGNESIUM AND ZIRCONIUM METAL PRODUCTION

摘要

A method for reducing impurities in magnesium comprises: combining a zirconium containing material with a molten low impurity magnesium including no more than 1.0 weight percent of total impurities in a vessel to provide a mixture; holding the mixture in a molten state for a period of time sufficient to allow at least a portion of the zirconium containing material to react with at least a portion of the impurities and form intermetallic compounds; and separating at least a portion of the molten magnesium in the mixture from at least a portion of the intermetallic compounds to provide a purified magnesium wherein the purified magnesium includes an increased level of zirconium compared to the low impurity magnesium wherein the purified magnesium includes greater than 1000 ppm zirconium and wherein the purified magnesium includes a reduced level of impurities other than zirconium compared to the low impurity magnesium. A purified magnesium including at least 1000 ppm zirconium and methods for producing zirconium metal using magnesium reductant also are disclosed.