Abstract: The process for converting a copper sulphide matte to blister copper, is achieved by adding the copper sulphide matte and flux to a suitable agitated slag phase; and injecting, from a discharge tip at the lower end of a top-submerged lance, an oxidizing gas suitable for reacting with the matte to produce blister copper which forms or adds to a continuous blister copper phase below the slag phase. The lance tip is located within the slag phase at a depth enabling the injected gas to agitate the slag phase, and to react with copper sulphide matte dispersed therein, while precluding a substantial proportion of the gas from contacting the continuous blister copper phase.

Abstract: A process for producing iron metal and slag by smelting iron-containing source material, having iron present as oxide and/or a partially metalized state, in a reactor containing a molten bath comprising or having a slag phase, utilises injection of fuel/reductant and oxygen-containing gas into the slag, by at least one top-submerged lance, to generate heating and reducing conditions in at least one reducing region in the bath. The source material is fed to the reactor, together with additional reductant and with flux, at or adjacent to the at least one reducing region, to subject the source material to smelting reduction which generates combustion gases comprising CO and H2. The rates of injection of the oxygen-containing gas and fuel/reductant by said at least one lance are controlled to achieve required, sufficient reducing conditions; and, in the reactor above the bath, the combustion gases generated by the smelting are post-combusted.

Abstract: The process for converting a copper sulphide matte to blister copper, is achieved by adding the copper sulphide matte and flux to a suitable agitated slag phase; and injecting, from a discharge tip at the lower end of a top-submerged lance, an oxidizing gas suitable for reacting with the matte to produce blister copper which forms or adds to a continuous blister copper phase below the slag phase. The lance tip is located within the slag phase at a depth enabling the injected gas to agitate the slag phase, and to react with copper sulphide matte dispersed therein, while precluding a substantial proportion of the gas from contacting the continuous blister copper phase.

Abstract: A method for preparing fatty hydroxamic acids and salts thereof comprising reacting a fatty acid derivative with an aqueous solution of hydroxylamine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydroxamate composition for collection of minerals by froth flotation, the composition including an aqueous mixture of hydroxamate wherein the pH of the composition is at least 11 and a method of collecting mineral values from an aqueous ore slurry by froth flotation.

Abstract: A process for producing iron metal and slag by smelting iron-containing source material, having iron present as oxide and/or a partially metallised state, in a reactor containing a molten bath comprising or having a slag phase, utilises injection of fuel/reductant and oxygen-containing gas into the slag, by at least one top-submerged lance, to generate heating and reducing conditions in at least one reducing region in the bath. The source material is fed to the reactor, together with additional reductant and with flux, at or adjacent to the at least one reducing region, to subject the source material to smelting reduction which generates combustion gases comprising CO and H2. The rates of injection of the oxygen-containing gas and fuel/reductant by said at least one lance are controlled to achieve required, sufficient reducing conditions; and, in the reactor above the bath, the combustion gases generated by the smelting are post-combusted.

Abstract: A process for treating carbon-containing material contaminated with toxic elements utilises smelting of the material in a top-submerged lancing reactor. The material has its carbon content present as elemental or free carbon. Smelting is conducted so as to form, or in the presence of, a fluid slag. In the course of smelting, free-oxygen-containing gas is injected into the slag by top-submerged injection, to combust the carbon content of the material. Volatilizable toxic elements are discharged in reactor off-gas, while non-volatilizable elements are substantially fully incorporated into the slag.

Abstract: The process provides for disposal of waste materials, including municipal waste such as garbage, industrial wastes, waste materials including rubber and plastics based materials, and ash waste from municipal waste incinerators and toxic waste incinerators. The waste is charged to a reactor, of a top-submerged lancing injector reactor system, containing a molten slag bath maintained in a turbulent condition, during charging of the waste, by top-submerged injection therein of a free-oxygen containing gas, using at least one top-submerged lance of the system. The waste is taken into the molten bath and is caused to circulate therein to a combustion/oxidation zone generated by the top-submerged injection. Constituents of the waste are subjected to free-oxygen of the injected gas in that zone and to heat energy of the slag, and thereby combusted/oxidised and/or decomposed.

Abstract: A process for smelting iron-containing source material in a reactor containing a slag bath, includes generating heating and reducing conditions in at least one reducing region of the bath by injection of fuel/reductant and oxygen-containing gas by at least one top submerged lance. The source material is fed to the reactor together with additional reductant and with flux at or adjacent the at least one reducing region so as to be subjected to smelting reduction, using coal as the additional reductant. The rates of injection of oxygen and fuel/reductant are controlled to achieve required and sufficient reducing conditions by providing the injected gas with an oxygen content from about 40% to about 100% sufficient for a degree of combustion of the fuel/reductant of from about 40% to about 50%. The CO and H.sub.