Description
Fused salt electrolysis is one of the more interesting techniques available for producing or refining titanium. The method is quite versatile, not only in control of metal purity, particle size, and distribution, but also in feedstock, cell configuration and operating mode. Three basic operating techniques are available: electrowinning, electrorefining, and electron mediated reaction. At present, only electrorefining is commercial, although electrowinning titanium was demonstrated on the industrial scale some 40 years ago and is again showing some promise. Current technologies and prospects for further progress are reviewed.