a method of separating metal particulates form a slurry of liquid metal and metal particulates and salt particulates by filtering the slurry to form a cake of metal and salt particulates with some liquid metal . the cake is broken and liquid metal is removed by vacuum distillation or with a hot inert sweep gas at either positon or negative pressure from the broken cake , and thereafter separating the metal and salt particulates . thereafter , the metal partucilates are sized before water washing to prevent unacceptable explosions upon contact with water .