Abstract: This invention relates to a method of treating titania slag to increase the leachability of impurities from the slag consisting of the steps of sizing the titania slag to a particle size from 75 to 850 &mgr;m; oxidizing the sized slag particles at a temperature from about 700° C. to below about 900° C. causing the iron present in the slag to concentrate at the exposed surfaces of the slag particles and/or causing an anatase phase to stabilize in the slag, causing a major portion of the iron in the Fe(II) state to convert to the Fe(III) state, and causing the titanium in the Ti(III) state to be converted to the Ti(IV) state; and reducing the oxidized slag in a reducing atmosphere from about 700° C. to about 950° C. to convert a major portion of the iron in the Fe(III) state to the Fe(II) state. The invention also relates to a method of beneficiating titania slag to increase the TiO2 content thereof wherein the above treated slag is leached with acid.

Abstract: Apparatus for a metal reduction and melting process, in which a metal and carbon-containing burden is heated in an induction furnace including a heating vessel in which the burden can float in at least one heap on a liquid metal bath in the vessel, is characterized in that the apparatus includes at least one induction heater or inductor located at the bottom center line of the vessel, with the longitudinal access oriented perpendicular to the access of the vessel.

Abstract: A metal reduction and melting process which involves the heating of a burden comprising a metal containing component and a carbon containing component in a channel type induction furnace in order to reduce such metal containing component, in which at least part of the gaseous products of the process is utilized for preheating the burden; and apparatus for carrying out such preheating.

Abstract: The present invention provides a metal containing compound reduction and melting process which entails feeding a burden made of a mixture of the metal containing compound and a suitable reductant in particulate form into an electrically heatable vessel which contains a bath of the metal in liquid form so that a reaction zone is formed in the burden in which the metal containing compound is reduced and a melting zone is formed below the reaction zone in which the reduced metal is melted; and controlling the process in such a manner that substantially all of the reduction of the metal containing compound takes place in the solid phase.

Abstract: A method of disposing of fines material includes the step of mixing a slurry containing fines material with a slurry containing coarse material to form a slurry which contains a mixture of fines material and coarse material. The slurry containing the mixture is deposited onto an inclined surface so that liquid can drain from the mixture. The mixture contains a majority of fines material by mass.