Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the desulphurization treatment of a pig iron melt in a container. The characterizing feature of the invention is that the treatment is performed in three phases:In the initial phase such solids are injected that deoxidize the initial slag and increase its basicity and also produce a circulatory movement of the melt and form a basic deoxidized cover slag. In the middle phase the desulphurizing agent is injected for the main desulphurization and in the final phase such solids are injected that purify the melt and produce a final desulphurization and also so influence the desulphurization slag formed that its content of iron granules is low.

Abstract: A filter for molten metal comprises a series of at least two refractory material plates in contact with each other at their periphery and defining between them one or more cavities. Each plate comprises a series of holes through which the molten metal passes and by which the molten metal is filtered. The cavities are at least in part filled with a filter material resistant to the temperature of the molten metal to be filtered and providing additional filtering of the metal. The filter material is based on fibers resistant to the temperature of the molten metal. The filter is used to filter molten metals.

Abstract: This invention relates to a nickel-based superalloy comprising the following elements in percent by weight: from about 5.0 to about 7.0 percent rhenium, from about 1.8 to about 4.0 percent chromium, from about 1.5 to about 9.0 percent cobalt, from about 7.0 to about 10.0 percent tantalum, from about 3.5 to about 7.5 percent tungsten, from about 5.0 to about 7.0 percent aluminum, from about 0.1 to about 1.2 percent titanium, from about 0 to about 0.5 percent columbium, from about 0.25 to about 2.0 percent molybdenum, from about 0 to about 0.15 percent hafnium, and the balance nickel+incidental impurities, the superalloy having a phasial stability number N.sub.v3B less than about 2.10.

Abstract: A process for refining a crude material for copper or copper alloy which contains as impurity elements at least one species of Pb, Ni, Sb, S, Bi, and As in combination with at least one species of Sn, Fe, and Zn, which comprises the sequential steps of (1) melting a crude material for copper or copper alloy, (2a) increasing the oxygen concentration in the melt, thereby oxidizing Sn, Fe, and Zn into slag, (this step is carried out if the crude material contains as impurity elements at least one species of Sn, Fe, and Zn) (2b) adding to the melt at least one species selected from the group consisting of Fe, Fe oxide, Mn, and Mn oxide, thereby causing Pb, Ni, Sb, S, Bi, and As in the melt to slag in the form of compound oxide of Fe and/or Mn, (3) removing the thus formed slag from the melt, and (4) subjecting the melt to reduction.

Abstract: A method of recovering an aluminum-containing metal from a scrap material containing the metal and an organic contaminant, such as paper, plastics, lacquer, paint or oil. The method involves creating a fluidized bed of solid particles, maintaining a zone of the bed at a temperature in the range of the melting point of the metal to 1000.degree. C., introducing the scrap material into the fluidized zone to cause decoating of the metal within a time in the range of 1 to 40 seconds, at least partially melting the metal, and removing the metal material from the fluidized bed. In this way, decoating and at least partial melting is achieved essentially at the same time for improved efficiency. Metals of different melting point may also be separated from each other by providing a series of temperature zones in the fluidized bed (or in a series of fluidized beds) of progressively increasing temperature.

Abstract: A smelting process for blending hazardous and non-hazardous inorganic industrial wastes with carbon or aluminum reducing agents to simultaneously recover metal alloys (reducible metals), metal oxides (volatile reducible metals), carbon dioxide and man-made vitreous fiber (non reducible metals). Wastes including hazardous wastes of U.S. EPA Series D, F, P, K, and U are pulverized and blended with liquids such as water or waste water to produce a homogeneous mass. The mass is formed into briquettes and melted in a cupola or plasma arc furnace in the presence of carbon or aluminum to reduce metals. Other types of furnaces such as an electric arc furnace may be used to avoid the steps of forming and curing briquettes. Reduction is carried out at temperatures between 1660 and 3100 degrees Fahrenheit. Calcium flux from calcium-stabilized wastes enhances mineral wool quality, lowers the sulfur content of metals and raises pH to facilitate metal reduction. Reducible metals are reduced and drawn off into molds.

Abstract: Steelworks dusts or sludge is mixed into sewage preferably in the presence of a flocculating agent to provide a rapid separation of a clear effluent and a sludge which is dewatered and dried to form a solid material adapted to entrap harmful materials in the sewage such as heavy metals, pathogens and organic chemicals. The solid material is supplied to a smelt reduction furnace from which molten iron is recovered and a hot gas discharge is provided from which recovery of zinc and other materials may be achieved, other waste material being removed as a slag.

Abstract: There is provided an improved method for dispersing a treatment media in a body of molten metal using an impeller to disperse the media in the body of molten metal, the method producing increased shear forces in the body of molten metal and reducing vortex formation. The method comprises the steps of providing a body of molten metal and an impeller on a shaft in the body. A treatment media is added to the body and dispersed by rotating said impeller in one direction and thereafter reversing the direction of rotation of the impeller to a counter direction. The direction of rotation of the impeller is reversed periodically to substantially reduce formation of a vortex around the shaft of the impeller and to provide increased shear forces in the body for purposes of improving treatment of the molten metal by improved dispersion of the media therein.

Abstract: The maximum useful rate of aluminum refining is increased by baffle means positioned across the refining chamber under the rotor of a spinning nozzle in the refining chamber, with open spaces to facilitate cleaning being provided in the vicinity of the side wall of the refining chamber.

Abstract: A process for extracting metals from a flotation concentrate containing gold, platinum group minerals, copper, nickel and sulfur. The process involves roasting the concentrate in the presence of oxygen to reduce the sulfur content of the concentrate to approximately two percent; leaching the roasted concentrate with an acid solution containing hydrochloric and nitric acids to dissolve substantially all of the metals; and recovering the metals from the solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for feeding reaction gases, advantageously oxygen and air or a mixture thereof, into a smelting furnace so that the cross-sectional area wherethrough the reaction gases are fed can be adjusted. Thus the velocity of the gases when they are discharged into the smelting furnace can be maintained sufficiently high while the quantity and quality of the gas varies.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of removing slag from a body of molten iron comprising the steps of providing a body of molten iron in a crucible, the body having a layer of slag on the surface thereof, the crucible having a side thereof for removing slag therefrom. Means is provided for removing the slag at the side from the surface of the molten iron. Gas is injected into the molten iron to concentrate the slag on the surface adjacent the side for removing the slag to facilitate removal thereof. The concentrated slag is removed over the side by the means for removing the slag.

Abstract: A hot-blast main for a hot-blast stove system of a blast furnace has a refractory structure comprising a plurality of courses of refractory bricks. At least a first one of the courses has at least one part thereof comprised of a plurality of expansion-joint forming bricks whose dimensions and arrangement are such that, in the cold condition of the hot blast main, there are provided radial expansion joints between the expansion-joint forming bricks and at least one adjacent part of the hot-blast main. At least some of the expansion-joint forming bricks of the first course are placed radially staggered relative to at least one adjacent such brick in each case, so that the expansion joints are provided at both the radially inner side and the radially outer side of said first course. This construction accommodates differential thermal expansions and provides good stability of the structure.

Abstract: Metal vapor, for example zinc fume in the offgas of a smelting furnace, is captured by bringing the stream into direct contact with a fluidized bed of solid particles having a particulate loading of greater than 10 kg/m.sup.3 and preferably greater than 400 kg/m.sup.3. The thermal mass and temperature of the bed is such as to rapidly quench the vapor in the case of zinc from above 960.degree. C. to below 419.degree. C. in less than 100 milliseconds, whereby the vapor condenses in the bed and is recovered as zinc metal in acceptable yield.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for oxidizing the pulverous fuel of a furnace, advantageously a flash smelting furnace, by means of a burner, so that the oxidation takes place mainly owing to an effective mixing of two different combustion gases, pulverous fuel and possibly an extra fuel in the furnace space. The combustion gases are conducted into the furnace space in separate flows, so that oxygen is fed in through the center in an at least partly turbulent flow, and the air is fed around it in several separate flows. The invention also relates to a burner for mixing pulverous fuel and combustion gas and for burning them in the said furnace space.

Abstract: A tundish and, more specifically, an impact pad is formed with a bottom impact surface and includes an outer side wall extending upwardly therefrom which fully encloses an interior space or cavity having an upper opening into which molten metal is directed from a ladle shroud. The outer side wall of the pad includes an inner surface extending from the bottom impact surface to the opening of the pad. The inner side wall surface includes an annular portion which extends inwardly and upwardly toward the opening of the pad. In the preferred embodiment, the inner side wall surface curves continuously from the bottom impact surface to a vertical wall defining the opening of the pad. The pad redirects the pouring stream back into itself causing the counter current flows to slow each other down thereby minimizing turbulence and inhibiting high velocity flow within the tundish. The upward flow is further is advantageously directed away from the incoming pouring stream toward the surface of the bath.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method of extracting zinc from geothermal brines and synthetic brines which can be performed in a continuous, in-line process.

Abstract: Inverted DI cans are fed by a conveyer having partitions in a plurality of rows such that they are spaced apart in each row, and treatment liquid is sprayed against the travelling cans from above and below the center of each row. The liquid is sprayed from above in a uniform and a full-cone pattern greater in area than the top surface of the can and from below also in a full-cone pattern or in a fan-shaped pattern narrow in the widthwise direction of the conveyer and greater in length than the can open end diameter. The liquid is further sprayed against the travelling cans from side nozzles on the opposite sides of and symmetric with respect to the center of each row. The side walls of the cans are thus washed without contact of adjacent cans in the direction of travel of the cans. The washing force is increased in the space between adjacent cans in the direction of travel to prevent washing irregularities and thus permit uniform surface treatment of the inner and outer surfaces of the cans.

Abstract: Bathroom fittings and other hard surfaces are cleaned with a foam containing an alkyl polyglycoside as the principal surfactant. An effective amount of the foam is applied to a surface and removed by wiping with a cloth, sponge, or paper towel or by rinsing with water. Any residual foam remaining on the surface is not detectable by the naked eye because the residual material is transparent.

Abstract: There is proposed a process for recovering lead, comprising the steps of: feeding molten caustic soda, lead-containing feed and an oxygen-containing gas into a reaction some having a temperature of 600.degree. to 700.degree. C. as a result of which there are obtained lead metal withdrawn from the process and a melt containing sodium sulphate, zinc and copper sulphides, and gangue. The melt is discharged from the reaction zone of subjected to a first leaching operation to obtain, as a result, a slurry representing a mixture of solid particles of sodium sulphate, zinc and copper sulphides, gangue and an aqueous solution containing essentially caustic soda. Further on, the slurry is filtered to produce a concentrated aqueous solution containing essentially caustic soda and a solid residue. The concentrated caustic soda solution is subjected to thickening by evaporation and the resulting caustic soda melt is fed into the reaction zone.