Abstract: A process which improves the environmental performance of primary non-ferrous metal smelters by reducing carbon emissions, providing enhanced energy utilization, improving consumption efficiencies, and improving worker safety. The smelters include those that smelt nickel, copper and zinc. The process includes a step of drying feedstock prior to the addition of a product conditioning solution that includes saccharides as a primary ingredient. Sucrose and fructose are preferred saccharides. A base saccharide solution may be prepared by either diluting a concentrated saccharide syrup (75 to 85 brix), or by dissolving a dried powdered saccharide in water to a concentration that yeilds a syrup of between 20 and 30 Brix, more preferentially 25 Brix. The Brix may be measured with any commercially available refractometer capable of measuring the Brix of sugar solutions.

Abstract: A method of recovering rhenium (Re) and other metals from Re-bearing materials in the form of ammonium perrhenate having at least the step of adding Re-bearing materials into a leaching slurry. Additionally, the method has the step of adjusting the pH of the slurry to obtain Re in soluble form in a metal salt solution and insoluble residues; filtering the metal salt solution to remove the insoluble residues; selectively precipitating Re from the metal salt solution; and filtering the Re precipitate from the metal salt solution to obtain a Re filtercake. The method further has the step of drying and formulating Re to produce Re sulfide product.

Abstract: A method of recovering rhenium (Re) and other metals from Re-bearing materials in the form of ammonium perrhenate having at least the step of adding Re-bearing materials into a leaching slurry. Additionally, the method has the step of adjusting the pH of the slurry to obtain Re in soluble form in a metal salt solution and insoluble residues; filtering the metal salt solution to remove the insoluble residues; selectively precipitating Re from the metal salt solution; filtering the Re precipitate from the metal salt solution to obtain a Re filtercake; and formulating and drying the Re filtercake to obtain a Re sulfide product. The method further has the step of combining the Re sulfide product with a Molybdenum (Mo) concentrate containing Re to obtain a Mo/Re concentrate; roasting the Mo/Re concentrate to obtain Mo oxide product and a flue gas containing Re; and treating the flue gas containing Re to obtain ammonium perrhenate.

Abstract: A method for selectively recovering a metal from mined ore and other metal-bearing raw source materials is disclosed.

Abstract: Cermet material obtained from unused inert anodes, used inert anodes and cermet used in the production of inert anodes is beneficiated into a nonferrous metal concentrate composition from which metal values contained in the composition may be readily recovered by using a conventional smelting process. The invention also relates to the use of the composition in a smelting process for the recovery of metal values from the cermet composition of the invention.

Abstract: Cermet material obtained from unused inert anodes, used inert anodes and cermet used in the production of inert anodes is beneficiated into a nonferrous metal concentrate composition from which metal values contained in the composition may be readily recovered by using a conventional smelting process.

Abstract: Cermet material obtained from unused inert anodes, used inert anodes and cermet used in the production of inert anodes is beneficiated into a nonferrous metal concentrate composition from which metal values contained in the composition may be readily recovered by using a conventional smelting process. The invention also relates to the use of the composition in a smelting process for the recovery of metal values from the cermet composition of the invention.

Abstract: Cermet material obtained from unused inert anodes, used inert anodes and cermet used in the production of inert anodes is beneficiated into a nonferrous metal concentrate composition from which metal values contained in the composition may be readily recovered by using a conventional smelting process. The invention also relates to the use of the composition in a smelting process for the recovery of metal values from the cermet composition of the invention.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of selected metal values from silica containing sludges including incineration of the sludge to degrade organic components, followed by acid leaching of the ash, followed by hydrometallurgical recovery of metal values from the remaining solid and liquid residues, wherein the incineration step is carried out at a temperature below the slagging temperature of silicates, whereby to avoid the occluding of metal values in glass matrices which are not attacked by subsequent acid leaching and hydrometallurgical steps.

Abstract: The method of safely disposing of sludge containing metal values capable of displaying toxic ecological properties including the steps of deriving from an organic or inorganic sludge an intermediate product such as a dewatered sludge or an incinerated ash, and adding this intermediate product to a metal smelting step of a type producing a slag such that most of the metal values become encapsulated in the slag, although some precious metal values may be recovered with the metal being smelted, and may be subsequently separated therefrom by appropriate metal winning steps, the sludge product bringing to the smelting process certain additives needed therein such as silica and phosphates for the slag, alumina and magnesium to lower the viscosity of the molten slag, and organic matter serving as reducing agents.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of selected metal values from silica containing sludges including incineration of the sludge to degrade organic components, followed by acid leaching of the ash, followed by hydrometallurgical recovery of metal values from the remaining solid and liquid residues, wherein prior to incineration of the sludge a quantity of soluble sodium and/or potassium salts are mixed with the sludge, the quantity being in excess by weight of the silica content of the sludge, and then the incineration step is carried out on this mixture so that silicates which form during such incineration are predominantly soluble in water and in the leaching acid, whereby to avoid the occluding of metal values in insoluble glass matrices which would not be attacked by subsequent acid leaching and hydrometallurgical steps.

Abstract: A process for economically recovering metal values, especially precious metal values, from waste waters comprising a mixture of natural surface water, industrial waste water and organic waste, where the metal values appear in concentrations below levels previously commercially of interest, including the steps of concentrating the metal values of the waste waters by bacterial treatment thereof to imbibe and capture the metal values from the waters and immobilize them in a sludge, coagulating and separating the sludge from the water, de-watering the sludge and burning off the organic matter, and recovering selected metal values by inorganic metal-winning process steps.