Extraction of products from titanium-bearing minerals

The invention relates to a process for extracting metals and salts from titanium-bearing minerals such as perovskite. More particularly, although not exclusively, the invention relates to extracting titanium dioxide and optionally other compounds from melter slag derived from an iron-making process. More particularly, although not exclusively, the invention relates to a method of recovering titanium dioxide and magnesium sulphate from a particulate material, the method comprising: a. contacting the particulate material with sulphuric acid and heating to form a sulphated mixture; b. filtering the sulphated mixture to produce a filter cake and a first permeate comprising sulphuric acid; c. contacting the filter cake with water to form a sulphated suspension comprising titanyl sulphate; d. filtering the sulphated suspension to produce a permeate comprising at least titanyl sulphate, and a retentate comprising insoluble residue; e. contacting the permeate comprising at least titanyl sulphate with water to produce a hydrolysis liquor; and f. hydrolysing the titanyl sulphate; g. separating titanium dioxide hydrate from the hydrolysis liquor to produce a permeate comprising magnesium sulphate, and a retentate comprising titanium dioxide hydrate; and h. precipitating magnesium sulphate from the permeate.