Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the recovery of precious metal/s from a precious metal-containing material in an aqueous leach slurry or solution. The process includes the step of contacting the precious metal/s in the leach slurry or solution with a ligand selected from dithiooxamide (rubeanic acid), or a substituted dithiooxamide. The leaching of PGMs, gold and silver from their ores using the ligand of the present invention may take place under aqueous alkaline conditions, avoiding both corrosive acidic conditions and the use of cyanide.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the recovery of precious metal/s from a precious metal-containing material in an aqueous leach slurry or solution. The process includes the step of contacting the precious metal/s in the leach slurry or solution with a ligand selected from dithiooxamide (rubeanic acid), or a substituted dithiooxamide. The leaching of PGMs, gold and silver from their ores using the ligand of the present invention may take place under aqueous alkaline conditions, avoiding both corrosive acidic conditions and the use of cyanide.

Abstract: A process for reducing a metal-containing material, the process comprising: providing a metal-containing material (5), heating said metal-containing material by convective and/or conductive and/or radiative means (2), exposing said metal-containing material to microwave (MW) energy (3), exposing said metal-containing material to radio frequency (RF) energy (4), and exposing said metal-containing material to a reducing agent (8). The method, which does not involve dielectric heating during exposure to MW and RF energy, enables more energy-efficient chemical reduction of metal-containing ores and ore concentrates and increases metallization yield.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring the concentration of gas includes a gas intake pipe (5) adapted to pass through a barrier (2) into a sealed off area (1) to sample the gas concentration in the sealed off area. A pump is connected to the gas intake pipe for pumping gas from the sealed off area to a gas analyzer, which in use is placed outside the sealed off area so that the gas within the sealed off area can be analyzed. An air return pipe (6) is adapted to pass through the barrier into the sealed off area to return gas which has been sampled back to the sealed off area.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of titania rich slag from ilmenite. The ilmenite is fed together with carbonaceous reductant, and in the absence of fluxes, to the molten bath of a D.C. arc furnace. The molten bath of the furnace forms the anode and one or more electrodes in the roof of the furnace forms the cathode. A frozen lining is established and maintained between the refractory lining of the furnace and the molten bath and the process includes means to control the thickness of the frozen lining as well as the whole smelting process.