METHOD OF REMOVING/CONCENTRATING METAL-FOG-FORMING METAL PRESENT IN MOLTEN SALT, APPARATUS THEREFOR, AND PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING Ti OR Ti ALLOY WITH THESE

摘要

A method by which a metal-fog-forming metal dissolved in a molten salt comprising a molten salt containing the metal-fog-forming metal can be removed and transferred to another molten salt to heighten the concentration thereof. The method can hence be utilized as a means of treating molten salts in various fields of the mining and manufacturing industries where molten salts containing a metal-fog-forming metal such as calcium or sodium are handled. In particular, when the method is utilized in producing titanium through calcium reduction, the calcium dissolved in a molten salt to be sent to an electrolytic cell can be rapidly removed (recovered) and the efficiency of calcium generation during the electrolysis of the molten salt can be heightened. Consequently, calcium generation and TiCl4 reduction in the electrolysis of a molten salt can be efficiently conducted and a stable operation on an industrial scale is possible. Thus, the method can be effectively utilized in producing titanium or a titanium alloy through calcium reduction.