A process is disclosed for separation and recovery of vanadium,
molybdenum, iron, tungsten, cobalt and nickel from alumina-based
materials, mattes, ores, manufacturing by-products and waste. These
elements are oxidized. The oxides are reacted with gaseous HCl to form
volatile chloride-bearing compounds that subsequently sublimate. The
volatile compounds are condensed in a downward-stepped thermal gradient
that allows collection of moderate to high purity compounds of individual
elements with exception of a nickel-cobalt co-condensate. Nickel is
separated from cobalt by precipitation of nickel chloride from
concentrated HCl pressurized with gaseous HCl.