Abstract: Embodiments of an aluminum dross cooling head are disclosed. The cooling cooperates with a material container encapsulate dross and reduce thermiting of the dross. In one embodiment, the cooling head also serves as a compression head when forced into the dross by a cooperating dross press assembly.

Abstract: A thermal system for separating out co-mingled metals in almost pure form, the system including a tunnel kiln having temperature zones through which the co-mingled metals are conveyed and progressively heated until at least one metal of the co-mingled metals melts thereby separating the melted metal from the other metal or metals of the co-mingled metals. The system includes molten metal catch basins for collecting the melted metal which are arranged beneath a conveyor on which the co-mingled metals are transported within the kiln. The catch basins are tapped to the outside of the kiln so that as the various metals melt out at progressively higher temperatures, they can be collected into cast iron chills or other collection devices to form pure ingots.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing and separating excess copper dissolved in molten lead-free solder containing tin as the main element is provided. An apparatus 1 deposits excess copper in the molten lead-free solder as an intermetallic compound and separates it from the molten solder. The apparatus includes a deposition bath 2 for causing an intermetallic compound in the molten solder, a metal added from the outside and copper in the molten solder to be deposited, a granulation bath 4 including plates 31 32 and 33 for allowing the molten solder to pass through the plates to merge the intermetallic compounds into particles having a larger diameter, and a separation bath 5 for causing the enlarged intermetallic compounds to precipitate and separate in the molten solder.

Abstract: A solder recovery device includes a melter which melts solder dross stored in a melting crucible, an agitation unit which agitates the melted solder dross, so as to separate the melted solder dross up and down into an oxidized residue and a recycled solder in the melting crucible, and a suction unit which sucks the oxidized residue generated by the agitation, the suction unit sucking the oxidized residue in an upper portion of the melting crucible to be removed.

Abstract: A filter includes a crucible, a filtering container, and a receiving tank. The crucible has a heater for heating a pre-filtered object to comprise a primary material in liquid and at least one other material in solid. The filtering container has a body, a sieve, and a press rod. The body connects with the crucible for receiving the heated pre-filtered object in a channel and provides a guide-out member; the sieve is disposed in said channel; and the press rod movably received in the channel for pressing the primary material of the pre-filtered object to flow through the sieve and to the guide-out member. The receiving tank has an entrance facing the guide-out member of the filtering container to receive the filtered primary material.

Abstract: An automatic dross processing system has a pivotably-mounted reaction vessel and a vertically movable motor and impeller. A microprocessor controls the operation of the motor and a series of actuators that move the motor vertically, move a probe that removes a plug to drain collected metal from the reaction vessel, and move the reaction vessel between a loading-and-processing position and a dumping position. The microprocessor coordinates the actions of these elements to complete a dross processing cycle to recover metal from a dross without requiring the attention of an operator throughout the process. The reaction vessel can have an inner shell and an outer shell that are bolted together with a gap therebetween to accommodate insulation, which can include a felt overlying one or more pieces of rigid material. A drain tube can be attached to the inner shell by an accordion-like structure to reduce thermal stresses in service.

Abstract: An apparatus for injecting particulate and/or gaseous material into a metallurgical vessel is disclosed. The apparatus includes a duct through which to inject the material, inner and outer water inflow and outflow passages extending through a wall of the duct and an annular duct tip disposed at the forward end of the duct. The duct tip is of annular formation and includes an annular inner end component, an annular outer end component, and an annular central component located between the inner and outer components. The duct tip also includes a plurality of radially extending dividers to divide a space between the outer end component and the central component into discrete radial passages to serve as the internal water flow passages of the tip.

Abstract: A system and method for cooling and removing metallic iron and other aggregate from a moving hearth is provided. Cooling may be provided by a secondary cooling system and a spray cooling system in a cooling zone. The secondary cooling system may include an arrangement of coolant tubes for absorbing heat. A flow of nitrogen may be provided through the cooling zone. The spray cooling system may provide evaporative cooling. Aggregate removal may be provided by a magnetic removal system, a plow system, and a sweeper system. The magnetic removal system uses a magnetic device and a moving belt to remove iron materials. The plow system uses a plow to separate and remove aggregate from the moving hearth. The sweeper system may use a vacuum device to pull materials from the moving hearth.

Abstract: The invention provides a separating vessel (10) suitable for use in the treatment of a mineral sample wherein a molten slag (11) is separated from a molten collector material (12) comprising a container defining an interior cavity (13) for receiving the molten materials (11, 12), an outlet aperture (14) leading from the interior cavity to the exterior of the container, and a separating surface (15) associated with the outlet aperture (14) which is shaped to cause droplets of flux (11a) to be carried along such surface, while droplets of collector material (12a) drip off such surface by the force of gravity.

Abstract: A dross compression apparatus and method includes one or more air nozzles for directing cooling air across the top of a compression head for cooling the compression head. The air may be vented through air vents in a wall of the apparatus after passing across the top of the compression head. Also a plurality of ribs may extend across the top of the compression head in the direction of the air vents in the wall of the apparatus for directing the air across the top of the compression head and out the air vents.

Abstract: A treatment apparatus (10) includes a liquid reactant metal containment vessel (11) for containing a first liquid reactant metal and isolating the reactant metal from the atmosphere. A release chamber (14) is adapted to receive the first liquid reactant metal from the containment vessel (11) and a submerging arrangement (21) is adapted to dunk or submerge a container (46) of feed material into the liquid reactant metal and move the container to a release location within the release chamber (14). Relatively light materials rising from the submerged container (46), including unreacted feed material, intermediate reaction products, and perhaps final reaction products collect in a collection area (60) having an upper surface defined by an upper surface of the release chamber (14).

Abstract: A treatment apparatus (10) includes a liquid reactant metal containment vessel (11) for containing a first liquid reactant metal and isolating the reactant metal from the atmosphere. A release chamber (14) is adapted to receive the first liquid reactant metal from the containment vessel (11) and a submerging arrangement (21) is adapted to dunk or submerge a container (46) of feed material into the liquid reactant metal and move the container to a release location within the release chamber (14). Relatively light materials rising from the submerged container (46), including unreacted feed material, intermediate reaction products, and perhaps final reaction products collect in a collection area (60) having an upper surface defined by an upper surface of the release chamber (14).

Abstract: Process and device for precipitating solid compounds from zinc metal baths. Partial amounts of the metal phase containing these compounds are exposed to an acceleration higher than gravity and dissociated into fractions containing heavier or lighter components. The molten mass depleted of solid compounds is returned to the metal bath. The device has a hollow rotary body for introduction into the molten mass and provided with a discharge opening for the depleted molten mass and a discharge opening for the liquid metal enriched with the solid compounds.

Abstract: A dross processing system has a motor mounted to a motor support arm by a motor support carriage, and has a carriage guide which engages the motor support carriage to guide the motor along a vertical path between a raised position and a lowered position. The motor is moved by a motor height actuator connected between the motor support arm and the motor support carriage. A hood having a hood rim and a hood upper structure is configured to be engaged by the motor support carriage when moved to the raised position. When the motor is moved to the lowered position, the hood rim engages a reaction vessel upper rim. The motor support arm can rotate between a loading/dumping position and an operating position. The dross processing system can be partially automated by a microprocessor. A preferred impeller for agitating dross and a plug setting tool can be employed.

Abstract: In a process for separating impurities from a raw gallium material containing impurities, a process for refining gallium comprising progressively solidifying a raw gallium material provided in a liquid state inside a vessel while applying stirring, such that the diameter of the tubular solidification boundary gradually advances from the inner wall plane of the vessel towards the center of the vessel to reduce the diameter of the tubular solidification boundary, and separating the liquid phase remaining in the central portion of the vessel from the solidified phase before the entire raw material inside the vessel is solidified. The process above is repeated as required by using, as the raw gallium material, the solidified phase from which the liquid phase is separated. A metallic gallium favorably used for the preparation of a compound semiconductor can be obtained by analyzing the impurity concentration of the impurity-concentrated Ga separated from the solidified layer.

Abstract: A dross processing system has a substantially vertical support positioned in close proximity to a furnace. A reaction vessel is mounted to the substantially vertical support by a reaction vessel support. The reaction vessel preferably has a substantially vertical sidewall and a bottom member having a sealable port. The reaction vessel is preferably fabricated of stainless steel sheet stock, and can have expanded metal sheet welded to the outside or can have a dual-shell structure. The reaction vessel is retained in a horizontal position for loading metal-bearing dross, and can pivot to dump spent dross. The reaction vessel support can be rotatably mounted with respect to the furnace to allow the reaction vessel to be swung away from the furnace for dumping. In one embodiment, the reaction vessel can also be raised and lowered.

Abstract: A dross press head is constructed of refractory material. The refractory material may be a vitreous silica based refractory or other suitable refractory material including ceramic material. The refractory head may include reinforcing fibers, which may be stainless steel fibers. The refractory head may be provided with refractory clips or anchor bolts and secured at its upper end to a metal plate for structural strength. One or more spikes may be formed on or mounted to a lower surface of the refractory head for aiding flow of the upper layer of metal recovered from the dross. The spikes may be constructed of refractory material including ceramic material, cast steel, cast iron or hot rolled steel. Spike material may be selected based on the type of dross. The spike may be formed on the head threadably mounted to a supporting rod mounted to the upper metal plate.

Abstract: A device for removing dross from the surface of the molten metal and for extracting usable elemental metal from the dross. The device comprises a container in which the dross is collected, a means for lifting the container out of the molten bath of metal and an agitating means for chopping the dross to separate the elemental metal from the particles of metal oxides contained in the dross. Preferably, the container has perforations therein such that the elemental metal may drain through the perforations and back into the molten bath. The remaining dross is then dumped in a recycle bin by the device.

Abstract: A portable dross pressing apparatus utilizes a frame which may be made portable by wheels, by forklift tubes or the like. A press head is mounted to an upper portion of the portable frame and a drive means is used to force a skim pot upwardly into juxtaposition with the press head wherein dross within the skim pot may be compressed between the skim pot and the press head. The pot and/or head may contain ribs which may or may not mate. The pressing components may be made of cast steel or of a refractory material, such as ceramic. A pot of refractory material would be constructed over a metal shell for reinforcement. Preferably, the skim pot and sow mold are mounted within a traveling frame which is movably mounted to the portable frame. The skim pot may be provided with an automatic dumping mechanism and the sow mold may be mounted on a slide drawer mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, the skim pot is provided with means for preheating which may either be a gas burner or electrical resistance heaters.

Abstract: A rotary thermal oxidizer removes polymeric and other non-metal components of exhausted batteries and cells leaving value-metals, such as cadmium, nickel, and iron behind for subsequent processing. By preheating the sweep gas to a temperature above the auto-ignition temperature of the polymers, prior to their introduction into the oxidizer, and controlling the oxygen content within the oxidizer the risks of explosion and fire associated with the pyrometallurgical recycling of the cells is substantially reduced.

Abstract: The invention presents an apparatus and method for dross removal from coating lines. The invention utilizes magnets to collect dross either in suspension or which has accumulated at or near the bottom of a coating pot. The invention utilizes the magnetic properties of the dross to separate the dross from the non-magnetic coating metal. The use of magnets allows for removal of dross from the coating metal without simultaneously removing valuable coating metal from the coating pot.

Abstract: A dross press including a press head and skim box and including a head system comprising pressing means for pressing the dross in said skim box, said press means including means for providing a rocking movement for said press head. Said means comprise two hydraulic rams spaced apart on diametrically opposite sides of the press head.

Abstract: An improved cooling system for cooling the head of a dross press used in the recovery of non-ferrous metals from dross utilizes a controlled flow of cooling fluid (preferably water) through a cooling coil mounted in particulate matter having a high absorbtivity for heat, preferably sand and most preferably chromite sand. A temperature sensor is mounted within the particulate material or sand, and is used to control the flow of water through the coil in the cooling head. When a temperature above a predetermined value is sensed, water flow through the cooling coil is caused to increase. When the sensed temperature is below a second predetermined value, the controlled water flow through the cooling coil is caused to decrease. Apparatus is also provided for controlling the amount of time that the dross press head is in contact with the dross to be pressed as a function of the temperature of the dross.

Abstract: The dross pot comprises a generally conical vessel with a plurality of internal upstanding ribs which divide the dross pot into a plurality of segments and also provide a plurality of draining holes for molten metal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reclaiming metal chips formed while machining metal castings to their finished shape. The apparatus includes a stationary charging tube extending in a generally perpendicular direction from the charge well of a reverbratory furnace. The lower end of the charging tube is attached to a box-shaped structure which has an open bottom. The sides of the structure extend into a pool of molten metal contained in the charge well. A variable rate feeder provides a continuous supply of metal chips to the charging tube at a rate which is essentially the same as the rate at which the chips are being produced. The chips form a column within the charging tube which extends through the box-shaped structure and into the pool of molten metal. As the chips at the bottom of the column are melted, additional chips are added to the top, forcing the bottom of the column of chips into the pool of molten metal.

Abstract: The design of the press head includes concave profile sides to enable a greater amount of aluminium dross to be trapped in a skim box as the press head descends. The end of the head forms a spike which can pass through a central hole in the skim box to clear the hole allowing free drainage of molten aluminium.

Abstract: In a method for processing solid residues from refuse incineration plants the slag is melted and heavy metals from the melt (16) are separated for reutilization. The slag is directly transferred from the refuse incineration plant into a first heating chamber (2) and melted there under oxidizing conditions. The melt (16) produced therefrom is transferred to a second heating chamber (3), in which the heavy metal compounds are reduced to their metallic form. Furthermore, additional finely divided residues, such as fly ash, boiler ash and filter dust, are introduced into the second heating chamber (3) via a hollow graphite electrode (19). The melt (16) is then passed on to a third heating chamber (4), in which the residual readily volatile metals are vaporized and the residual non-volatile metals are sedimented. The essentially heavy-metal-free melt is then cooled to form vitreous granules.

Abstract: An incremental rotational system for an aluminium dross processing head includes lever means actuated by the head as it rises to rotate the head by a defined amount, no independent drive system being required.

Abstract: In a dross press the skim box containing the dross is vibrated to subject the dross to a vibrating motion thereby extracting additional aluminium from the dross.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating residual or waste materials that can be recycled energetically, especially light-weight refuse from shredders, which, reduced in size and classified, are stored in bunkers. The residual or waste material is fed by portions from the bunkers to a supply trough in a metal melting furnace, especially an electric arc furnace for melting steel. After a predetermined time, the residual material is placed by portions into a sluice that can be closed in a gas-tight manner. After the sluice is closed, the residual material is subjected to an oxygen-containing gas, the pressure of which is higher than the pressure at the furnace head of the metal melting furnace, until the pressure within the sluice exceed the pressure in the furnace head. The sluice output opening facing toward the furnace vessel bottom is opened after the pressure within the sluice exceeds the pressure in the furnace head and the residual material is conveyed pneumatically into the chamber part.

Abstract: A cooling system for an aluminum dross press head includes an air inlet means allowing air to be drawn into the press head and a hollow actuating rod connected to the press head which extracts air from the press bead.

Abstract: A process for recovering Na from a spent NaS cell, includes the steps of forming an opening in a spent NaS cell, flowing down molten Na from an interior of the NaS cell through the opening in a heating oil vessel, passing the molten Na through a filter placed in the heating oil vessel to remove metallic powder, collecting the molten Na in a bottom portion of the heating oil vessel by utilizing a difference in specific gravity between the molten Na and an oil, and taking out the Na from an outer side of the filter.

Abstract: A metal purifying apparatus comprises a closed melting furnace equipped with a heater, molten metal holding crucible disposed within the furnace, a vertical hollow rotary shaft penetrating through a top wall of the furnace, a packing sealing off a clearance in the shaft penetrating portion of the top wall around the shaft, rotary drive means for rotatingly driving the shaft, a hollow rotary cooling body fixedly provided at a lower end of the shaft and having an interior space communicating with an interior space of the shaft, and a cooling fluid supply source for supplying a cooling fluid to the interior of the cooling body. The rotary shaft has disposed therein a cooling fluid discharge pipe with a lower end positioned below the top wall of the furnace.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reclaiming metal chips formed while machining metal castings to their finished shape. The apparatus includes a stationary charging tube extending in a generally perpendicular direction from the charge well of a reverbratory furnace. The lower end of the charging tube is attached to a box-shaped structure which has an open bottom. The sides of the structure extend into a pool of molten metal contained in the charge well. A variable rate feeder provides a continuous supply of metal chips to the charging tube at a rate which is essentially the same as the rate at which the chips are being produced. The chips form a column within the charging tube which extends through the box-shaped structure and into the pool of molten metal. As the chips at the bottom of the column are melted, additional chips are added to the top, forcing the bottom of the column of chips into the pool of molten metal.

Abstract: A device for the pretreatment of electronic scrap, comprising a scroll cylinder (1) with a worm screw (2) inside it, endowed with inputs and outputs for thermal exchange fluid (13, 8) and electronic scrap to be treated (6, 14); a furnace comprising sucha device, further comprising input (9, 11) and output (23, 24) air barriers; a refrigerator comprising such a device too; as well as a proces for the pretreatment of electronic scrap making use of such a furnace and refrigerator.

Abstract: A waste car disposer which includes a plurality of tunnel-like furnaces connected in series and separately controlled to heat waste cars at different temperatures so that plastic, rubber, glass, lead, zinc, nickel, copper, iron and steel parts of waste cars are separately melted and respectively collected for reclamation.

Abstract: Apparatus for the continuous heat processing of scrap materials, particularly for decontaminating aluminum can scrap, has a rotary kiln defining a furnace chamber along which the material is fed and a hot gas circulation system including a duct leading through the chamber from the input end to an enclosure at the output end from which the gases pass back in contra-flow to the material through the furnace chamber itself to return to the input end. The gas circulation system also includes an after burner through which the exhausted gases are recirculated, and being at the input end of the furnace to provide a compact unitary and readily adaptable construction in which heat losses are minimized.

Abstract: Continuous melting of lightweight shredded metal, e.g., in the recycling of aluminum can scrap is achieved by feeding lightweight scrap portions into a melting chamber through which a heated gas stream flows upwardly at a temperature in excess of the metal melting point and at such velocity that the scrap portions are borne in the flow within the chamber until they melt into denser droplets or globules which drop from the chamber and are collected in a holding furnace.

Abstract: A process and device for recovering cadmium and nickel metals from Ni-Cd battery and processing scrap material containing nickel, cadmium, iron and other substances are disclosed. The process includes depositing the scrap material in a furnace and adding an effective amount of an oxygen getter in the furnace to prevent oxide formation. Argon or nitrogen gas is introduced and maintained in the atmosphere of the furnace. The furnace is then heated for an effective period of time to evaporate free water. The temperature of the furnace is then increased and maintained to approximately 500.degree.-800.degree. C. for an effective period of time to volatilize molecular water and non-metallic substances. The temperature of the furnace is then further raised to greater than approximately 900.degree. C. for an effective period of time to vaporize cadmium from the scrap material.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat treating particulate material containing a combustible contaminant. The particulate material is fed into the upstream end of a rotary drum and is conveyed toward the downstream end of the drum. A fixed first tubular member is disposed concentrically within the downstream end of the drum and includes a small diameter inlet section and a larger diameter outlet section. A fuel burner is located within the small diameter end of the first tubular member and combustion gases from the burner travel through the first tubular member to the larger diameter outlet section where the gases expand and are cooled. The gases are then discharged into the upstream end of the drum into contact with the particulate material to vaporize the combustible contaminants. A second tubular member is mounted in radially spaced relation between the first tubular member and the downstream end of the drum to provide inner and outer annular chambers.

Abstract: A process and apparatus carries out the direct removal of slag floating on the molten metal within a metallurgical furnace via vacuum suction-tube which is inserted from above through a furnace discharge opening. The tube discharge is connected into an evacuated external slag-cooling chamber, within which the slag stream exiting the suction-tube is granulated by impinging water jets. The water and entrained slag granules descend by gravity through a communicating water-column vacuum-leg, terminating in an atmosphere-exposed pool, within which the granules are collected on a conveyor which dewaters the granules while carrying the slag out of the pool to an external pile or bin. The invention is capable of realizing slow slag discharge at controlled rates over long time periods, as well as in conjunction with the simultaneous and continuous metal withdrawal by a somewhat analagous metal siphon tube into an evacuated metal withdrawal chamber for casting.

Abstract: A stripping apparatus for stripping metal film from a metallized plastic film is provided. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a rod is utilized for providing an anode or cathode charge, with the rod movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the metallized plastic film. As a result, any remnants which may accumulate on the rod from a previous stripping operation do not adversely affect subsequent stripping operations. Further, a pressing roller is provided which is downstream of both of an anode/cathode roller and the cathode/anode rod. In another embodiment, a plurality of anode-cathode pairs are provided which are rotatably mounted. When one of the anode-cathode pairs is performing a stripping operation, another of the anode-cathode pairs can be cleaned by a brush or grinding device, such that a newly cleaned anode-cathode pair can be presented for each stripping operation.

Abstract: This method of preheating scrap iron mixed with plastic, rubber and resinous, i.e. organic, materials and intended for electric furnaces, in particular electric arc furnaces, is characterized by transforming the plastic, rubbery or resinous and like materials or organic nature present in the scrap iron, to advantageously eliminate them by a path able to produce thermal energy usable for preheating the scrap to be melted, said path consisting of pyrolysis in an environment fed both with the the scrap to be melted and with said organic materials, the whole being previously shredded.

Abstract: A process and an arrangement are disclosed for the removal of a low-melting embedding body from a higher-melting embedded component. A groove is provided along a molding-in base of the component and by means of the widening of the groove via heatable elements, the resulting halves of the embedding body are removed. The process and the arrangement are particularly suitable for separating embedded guide and moving blades from the manufactured embedding body.

Abstract: Utilization of metal chips, especially scrap metal chips, particularly brass and aluminum, by introduction of the metal chips into a pool of molten metal of which they are formed or an alloy thereof, with minimization of fuel cost, heat loss, and minimal conversion of the metal at the surface of the molten metal pool to metal oxide, as well as an increase in the yield of utilizable metal from the remelting or recycling operation, by maintaining a non-oxidizing atmosphere at the surface of the molten metal pool and optionally utilizing vaporized residual impurities from chips being recycled such as oil, lacquer, or similar vaporizable impurity to assist in maintaining the non-oxidizing atmosphere, thereby permitting elimination of impurity-removal steps previously required for preparation of the chips for recycling by introduction into such a molten metal pool, and thereby also conveniently and simultaneously substantially reducing environmental pollution from vaporizable contaminants, fumes, and decomposition

Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of metal-laminated plastics scrap and/or radio, television or computer scrap, wherein the scrap is heated in a closed container to a temperature at which the metal-plastic bond is broken and the metal and plastics parts are segregated from each other. The apparatus comprises a heatable container which is provided with a closable scrap charging opening and a closable products removal opening. An inert feed conduit and inert gas removal conduit are connected to the container which is formed as a rotary tube. An inert gas washing chamber is provided between the inert gas removal conduit and the inert gas feed conduit.

Abstract: A vaporizer and extractor apparatus for a laser isotope separation process is arranged as an assemblage of modular components in which equipment subject to maintenance is replaceable via vacuum casks while the apparatus is operational or briefly shut down without loss of vacuum. A vacuum transfer cask is provided for modular extractor substrate assemblies. The substrate assemblies are nestable and are mounted on extensible probes which permit them to be nested in the vacuum transfer cask for transport. During use the substrates extend from the cask, through a vacuum lock and are placed side by side in the vacuum chamber. A vacuum transfer cask is also provided for the vaporizer assembly which is mounted on an extensible arm which in turn positions the assembly in the chamber or retraces the vaporizer assembly from the chamber into the transfer cask, rotating it during the process in order to permit it to fit into the cask.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting and recovery of scrap material, particularly aluminum beverage can scrap, includes a rotary kiln (10) in which the raw scrap is heat processed to leave a furnace chamber (12) of the kiln as a mix of large particles of a first composition (e.g. larger pieces of soft aluminium alloy can body) and substantially smaller particles of a second and different composition (e.g. aluminium/manganese alloy can top fines). The output end of the kiln is provided with an axially extending screen section (30) to separate the larger particles from the small immediately adjacent to the chamber so that they cn be passed immediately without substantial loss of heat to a melting furnace (38).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for combusting a gaseous fuel in molten salt to generate a heated recirculating salt bath for melting aluminum. Combustion products are prevented from directly contacting aluminum. Gaseous fuel is introduced into a chamber containing the molten salt bath through a lance beneath its surface. The combusting gas heats the salt bath and causes an upward flow. At the top of the chamber, combustion products separate from the molten salt, which then flows downward into a second chamber. In one embodiment of the invention, aluminum is introduced into the downward-flowing salt bath of the second chamber. Molten aluminum settles in the less-dense downward-flowing salt bath, which recirculates from the second chamber to the first chamber for reheating. A second embodiment utilizes an additional chamber in which the heated molten salt is flowed upward to enable counter-current contact of heated molten salt with aluminum.

Abstract: A metal having a high purity is prepared by immersing a hollow rotary cooling member in a molten metal containing eutectic impurities and rotating the cooling member while supplying a cooling fluid to the interior of the cooling member, whereby the high-purity metal is caused to crystallize out on a metal deposition area of the peripheral surface portion of the cooling member present under the surface of the molten metal, the metal deposition area being the peripheral surface of at least a part of the entire portion, present under the melt surface, of the member. When the purified metal is caused to crystallize but by rotating the cooling member, a flow of molten metal having a downward velocity component is produced in the vicinity of an upper part of the entire portion, present under the melt surface, of the cooling member.