A method to electrolytically produce metallic titanium from compounds thereof. The method includes first positioning a foraminous metallic diaphragm with a diaphragm coefficient of greater than zero to about 0.5 when the coefficient of flow is about 0.1 to about 25 in an electrolytic cell. The cell further includes an anode spaced apart from a cathode and a titanium compound feed means by the diaphragm. A feed means is combined with the cathode compartment to supply a titanium compound to a molten salt electrolyte in the cathode compartment. The apparatus is preferably sealed from the atmosphere to avoid contamination of the bath and metal product with certain atmospheric gases. An ionizable titanium compound is subsequently introduced into the electrolyte and an electromotive force impressed between the anode and the cathode to thereby deposite metallic titanium on the cathode.