Abstract: A process is provided for the thermal decomposition of contaminated sulfuric acid, which was obtained from the scrubbing of sulfur dioxide contaminated gases created in the pyrometallurgical production of metals. The contaminated sulfuric acid is concentrated to obtain a H2SO4 content of 70% to 80%, wherein, during the concentration step, a portion of the metal components, such as arsenic component, zinc sulfate, cadmium sulfate and copper sulfate, as well as halogens, are removed from the sulfuric acid. The concentrated and purified sulfuric acid is fed into the exhaust shaft of a smelting furnace so that the heat of the smelting furnace exhaust gases thermally decomposes the sulfuric acid into sulfur dioxide, water and oxygen.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring sheet-like objects from one position to another comprises a control frame including a vertical control member and a gripping device within the control frame and including a control member counterpart engaging the vertical control member of the control frame in a manner permitting relative movement of the control frame and the gripping device over a predetermined vertical range. A loading member is coupled to the gripping device for lowering the gripping device from an upper position to a lower position and for raising the gripping device from the lower position to the upper position, and a positioning member is attached to the gripping device for engaging a complementary member when the gripping device is at the lower position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method according to which the wet scrubbing of a gas flow is performed in at least three, advantageously six successive steps or phases, and the droplet separation of the scrubbed gases is carried out in a uniform cyclone-like droplet separator composed of several nested cylinders. The invention also relates to a method for momentarily bypassing, during a capacity rise, a scrubbing phase that causes pressure loss. As a result, there is obtained a clean and dropless gas that falls below the allowed dust content limits and can thus be either conducted to combustion or discharged in the open air. The invention also relates to an apparatus, a multiphase scrubber, for realizing the method. The invention is particularly suited to be used for scrubbing hot furnace gases from closed reduction furnaces, where said furnace gases contain easily inflammable components.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sample flow control member to be used particularly in a continuously operated analysis of liquid or slurry-like materials, said control member being provided with members for selectively conducting the sample flow to an analyser. According to the invention, the control member (1, 21, 41) is installed in an essentially horizontal position and provided with at least one moving member (11, 28, 42) in order to turn the control member (1, 21, 41) around its rotation axis (12, 29, 48) in order to selectively conduct the sample flow to at least one analyser (7, 27; 44, 46) through at least one aperture (5, 25, 49) provided in the wall of the control member (1, 21, 41).

Abstract: A method of designing and manufacturing a magnetic separation apparatus. Past separators generally had poor power efficiency, poor throughput performance, and/or were bulky. Designing the magnetic separator of the present invention involves selecting a diameter and height for a separation container and superconducting coil by optimizing at least one parameter from a group of parameters. The magnetic separation apparatus includes a superconducting electromagnet and separation container having a diameter of about 60 inches, a height of about 40 inches, an inlet port, an outlet port, and removable matrix modules. The electromagnet generates a magnetic field strength within the separation container of greater than 3 Tesla. The optimized separation container volume, the high magnetic field strength, and the matrix modules allow the magnetic separation apparatus to have greatly increased slurry processing capacity.

Abstract: A multiphase scrubber for the wet scrubbing of gases in several different phases comprises at least three separate basic scrubbing units so that the scrubbing of the gas is carried out in at least three, advantageously six, successive steps. The droplet separation of the scrubbed gases is carried out in a uniform cyclone-like droplet separator composed of several nested cylinders. A clean dropless gas contains a dust content below the acceptable limit. The scrubber is suited for scrubbing hot furnace gases from closed reduction furnaces.

Abstract: Feed apparatus for treating and feeding lumpy or granular material to a smelting furnace, which apparatus contains a plurality of silos or sub-silos in which said material is contacted with a gas. The silo or sub-silo contains a cone-shaped gas distributor located in the middle of the bottom portion of the silo. The gas distribution cone has a number of gas nozzles, preferably between 100 and 500 gas nozzles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cleaning slag, created in metallurgical processes of non-ferrous metals, in an electric furnace, and particularly the method is related to a semi-continuous cleaning process. According to the novel method, the electric furnace is provided with at least two slag tapping holes, the lower of which is arranged on the same level as the tap hole in a conventional, batchwise operated furnace, and the second tap hole is located higher up, either at the height of the feed inlet or only slightly underneath it.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making the drying finely divided materials, more effective in a suction drier provided with a fine porous suction surface, where the radii of the fine pores of the suction surface are essentially within the range of 0.5-2 micrometers, and in which method, of a slurry containing liquid and solids there is made a filter cake (2,12,22) onto a fine porous liquid suction surface constituting the filter surface of the filter medium (1,11,21), According to the invention, the filter cake (2,12,22) and an oscillator (6,15,25) are arranged, in relation to each other, so that in between the filter cake (2,12,22) and the oscillator (6,15,25), there is generated an acoustic field by virtue of a mechanical contact between the filter cake (2,12,22) and the oscillator (6,15,25) or a structural element (7,16,26) connected to the oscillator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for sintering finely divided material, containing manganese compounds with a particle size less than 6 mm and a high degree of oxidation, by means of some carbon-bearing material in a conveyor-type sintering apparatus (9) in an essentially continuous operation. According to the invention, through the material (8) to be sintered in the sintering apparatus (9), there is conducted hot gas (15, 18), which causes combustion reactions between the manganese compounds contained in the material and having a high degree of oxidation and the carbon contained in the burning material. Thus the sintering (18) is carried out essentially by means of the combustion heat released from the material (8). Moreover, the sintered material (8) is subjected to cooling (17) prior to removing the material from the sintering apparatus (9).

Abstract: An apparatus and a process for subjecting a free falling stream of particles to an electrostatic field, between two rows of oppositely charged electrostatic rotating electrodes to effect a separation between particles of different electrostatic properties; the electrodes and cleaning brushes being suspended vertically and driven from their upper ends and having free lower ends. The electrode bearings are gently flushed with air from inside the electrodes and brushes to minimize the accumulation of dust thereon. The feed stream is baffled to minimize any lateral movement of the feed particles. The electrodes are fitted with commutator mechanisms to permit efficient and unchanging electrical charging of the electrodes without a separate connection from the power source to each electrode, i.e., the charging is from one to the next adjacent electrode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing copper in a hydrometallurgical process from copper-bearing raw materials, such as sulfidic concentrates. The concentrate is leached in a leaching stage of several steps into a chloride-based solution. The copper-bearing solution obtained from this leaching is subjected to reduction and solution purification, whereafter the copper contained in the solution is precipitated as copper oxidule by means of alkali hydroxide. The alkali chloride solution formed in the production of copper oxidule is fed into chloride alkali electrolysis, where it is regenerated back into alkali hydroxide. The hydrogen generated in the electrolysis is used in the reduction of copper oxidule and in other reduction stages of the process. The formed chlorine is used in the leaching of the raw material. When necessary, the reduced copper that is in a granular or pulverous form is further subjected to melting and casting in order to produce commercial-grade copper.