This review adds to the public domain literature on the extraction of lithium from mineral ores. The focus is on the pyrometallurgical pre-treatment of spodumene. Information on the phase transformation from α to β, the heat treatment methods as well as the behavior of various compounds in the roasting processes are evaluated. Insight into the chemical thermodynamics of the baking process is evaluated using HSC Chemistry software up to 1200 °C. It was observed that the alkaline, sulfation, chlorination (using Cl₂ and CaCl₂), carbonizing (to form Li₂CO₃) and fluorination processes were feasible either throughout or at a point within the temperature range considered. Chlorination using KCl and carbonizing to form Li₂O are the processes found to be nonspontaneous throughout the temperatures considered.

Titanium alloys (ASTM Grades 1, 2, 7, 12, and 18) are employed as the liner and internal components of autoclaves during the high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) of nickel laterite ores. This paper summarizes the corrosion behavior of these alloys in sulfuric acid and the effect of the addition of chlorides (NaCl). New thermodynamic –pH diagrams for the , , and systems are presented. Micrographs are also presented and the corrosion morphology is discussed. Long-term immersion tests were carried out to determine corrosion rates. Electrochemical techniques were used to provide insight into the corrosion chemistry. The shortcomings of accelerated corrosion testing of Ti alloys are addressed. Pd enrichment on the surface of Ti-18 was confirmed by a combination of open-circuit potential measurements and chronoamperometric measurements.