A process used in the production of certain metals such as titanium by reduction of its chloride with magnesium metal. It was named after William J. Kroll, who invented the process in 1937, replacing the earlier Hunter process. The process involves reducing refined rutile from its ore at 1,000°C within a fluidized bed with chlorine gas to (p. 212) produce titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4). This is then reduced using an excess of liquid magnesium at around 800°C in the reaction:
The titanium is then purified by leaching and vacuum distillation. The process is expensive to operate, but the value of titanium metal is far greater than stainless steel and has numerous applications, particularly in the nuclear industry. The process is also used for the commercial production of tantalum, zirconium, and niobium.