Preparation of highly pure beryllium by the chloride method

A method of producing highly pure beryllium by chlorination of beryllium oxide with carbon tetrachloride and electrolysis of a mixture of the beryllium chloride produced and sodium chloride at low temperature has been developed and put into practice on an industrial scale. The direct extraction of beryllium chloride during chlorination was 85.7% and the technological extraction with allowance for processing of the waste was 96%; the current yield during electrolysis was more than 80% and the direct extraction of beryllium with a cycle time of 90 days was 66.7% This method was used to prepare several tons of highly pure beryllium, which did not require additional purification for use in nuclear technology.