Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for reducing the oxidation state of a metal by contacting an acidic solution of the metal with an electroactive polymer, and accumulating and recovering the metal. More particularly, the invention is directed to a method for recovering precious metals like gold, platinum, palladium, and gold-platinum alloys from acidic solution by contacting the solution with an electroactive polymer like polyaniline or polypyrrole.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical process for treating copper ores or concentrates containing gold by simultaneously leaching both copper and gold into an aqueous cyanide solution, recovering copper and gold in metallic form by electrowinning or cementation and regenerating cyanide ions is provided.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus and process for removing particulate material and mercury-containing compounds from a gas stream. The apparatus includes a particulate removal means to remove the particulate material and a mercury collection means to remove the mercury-containing compounds. The apparatus can selectively remove particulate material and mercury-containing compounds which may be disposed of separately. The mercury collection means is positioned downstream of the particulate removal means and includes a regenerable sorbent. The sorbent is regenerated by elevating the temperature of the sorbent to release the mercury-containing compounds from the sorbent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for protecting the refractory lining of a metallurgical reaction vessel containing a smelt consisting of metal and slag, the reacting agents for the smelt being fed to the metal bath through introducing means disposed below and above the bath surface, and the gases escaping from the smelt being afterburned with oxidizing agents in the gas space, i.e. in the space above the still smelt, whereby gaseous reacting agents and/or gases acting inertly in the metal bath are fed to the smelt below the bath surface, and the total refractory lining surface in the gas space of the metallurgical reaction vessel is wetted by partial amounts of smelt in the form of drops, splashes, liquid portions rising or ejected eruptively and like a fountain and/or by wave or sloshing motion of the smelt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ultrafine comminution of mineral and organic powders with the aid of ball-milling techniques employing, as the grinding medium, solid (nonporous) metal-carbide microspheres with diameters of from 10 to 100 .mu.m fabricated with the aid of high-temperature plasma-torch reactors from fully liquefied carbides of tungsten, thallium, niobium and vanadium.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a process for the preparation of sintered calcium aluminates that can generally be used as a protective cover for liquid metals, and particularly steel, and the process comprising the steps of mixing calcium oxide, or its precursor, particles and aluminum dross residue, such as NOVAL.TM.; calcining the resulting mixture; maintaining a calcining temperature of 1200.degree. C. or higher for approximately 5 minutes or more which is sufficient to form a friable sintered product rich in calcium aluminates; and recovering the sintered product after cooling. Optionally, calcium fluoride, or other fluoride can be added to the starting mixture, if it is not already contained in the dross residue.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the recovery and assay of gold, silver (PMs) and the 6 platinum group elements (PGEs) from playa-evaporite sediments. Fine sediments are subjected to a primary leach with a highly caustic sodium thiosulfate leach liquor to produce a metal-pregnant solution. After filtration the pregnant solution is subjected to a two-stage precipitation of gold, silver and PGE values. In a first stage precious metals and some PGE elements are precipitated by lead acetate or sodium borohydride reagents. The precipitate may be subjected further to desulfurization and metallic footing to produce a lead-precious metal sponge. The sponge is de-leaded by firing and cupelling, selective cementation or electrolysis and reduction to dore is best effected by a carburizing distillation. The final recovery of the metal values is produced by controlled acid parting into individual precious metals and cupellation to the metallic state.

Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to present an apparatus consisting of a graphite rod, a vibration signal sensor, a signal processing unit, a data processing unit, and a data display unit to indicate the oxygen content of a copper melt. As such graphite rod is immersed into the molten metal it vibrates and the level of vibration is statistically correlated to the level of dissolved oxygen in the copper melt.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat-treating metallic workpieces, which includes two successive furnaces, a feeding device for feeding workpieces to the first furnace, and conveyor means from transporting workpieces from the first to the second furnace. Both furnaces are equipped with gas-tight inlet and out doors. The conveyor means are also gas-tight. The furnaces are each equipped with means for controlling temperature, dwell time and atmosphere.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flux cored wire for low alloy steels and high alloy steels which is excellent in arc stability and moisture absorption resistance of fume/slag. In this flux-cored wire, the flux components and the flux ratio are specified within the following ranges: namely, Na compound (Na.sub.2 O equivalent amount)+K compound (K.sub.2 O equivalent amount) (flux wt %): 1.5-6.0%; soluble Na compound (Na.sub.2 O equivalent amount) (flux wt %): 1.5% or less; soluble K compound (K.sub.2 O equivalent amount) (flux wt %): 0.8% or less; SiO.sub.2 (flux wt %): 5-30%; TiO.sub.2 +ZrO.sub.2 +Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 (flux wt %): 5-40%; flux ratio (wire wt %): 10-30%. Further, the flux components satisfy the formula of {soluble Na compound (Na.sub.2 O equivalent amount)+0.1.times.soluble K compound (K.sub.2 O equivalent amount)}/{SiO.sub.2 +0.5.times.(TiO.sub.2 +ZrO.sub.2 +Al.sub.2 O.sub.3)}: 40.times.10.sup.-3 or less. In addition, one or more kinds of a Li compound (Li.sub.2 O equivalent amount) and a Cs compound (Cs.sub.

Abstract: A method, for the conveyance of molten metal from one place to another, in a high-temperature molten metal pool in a metal-melting furnace or out of said molten metal pool, employing an at least partially-inclined elongated conveying conduit and gas feed means for feeding inert gas into the lower end of the conveying conduit and thereby inducing a flow of molten metal in and through said conveying conduit, is disclosed, along with suitable apparatus for carrying out the said method wherein the parts or elements coming into contact with the high-temperature molten metal pool are of a suitable refractory material. According to the present invention, the inert gas is fed into the conveying conduit at a supersonic velocity, thereby simultaneously effecting a degassing of the molten metal while it is being conveyed.

Abstract: A tube connector utilized in connecting a drip tube to a header pipe in a heap leach mining percolation system which provides for strength at the normally weak connection between the header pipe and the drip tube. The tube connector includes a housing providing a fluid passageway extending therethrough between a header pipe and a drip tube. A nipple section is formed at one end of the housing for accommodating the drip tube therearound which is of a relatively short length, and hence, a relatively short bending movement, to significantly reduce breakage of the connector during transportation.

Abstract: Copper is extracted from ore by crushing copper bearing ore followed by heap leaching with sulfuric acid and then moving the resulting solution to a tank containing scrap iron and agitating the solution to precipitate the copper. The tank possesses at least one gate for retaining the scrap iron, which gate is disposed above the bottom of the tank and has a mesh of at least one square inch.

Abstract: Filters contaminated with hydrocarbons are treated to reduce hydrocarbon content to acceptable levels for transportation and recycling. In one embodiment used petroleum filters are crushed and some of the hydrocarbon products released. The filters, either crushed or non-crushed, are heated in a primary chamber to a temperature of at least about 250.degree. C., the air flow into the primary chamber is controlled and the temperature in the primary chamber is maintained within a temperature range of about 250.degree. to 400 .degree. C. by application of heat and application of water sprays to carbonize hydrocarbons in the filters. The hydrocarbon vapors and water vapors from the primary chamber are condensed in a condenser and any non-condensed hydrocarbons remaining are incinerated in a secondary chamber.

Abstract: An improved cell for removal of silver ions from a liquid such as used photographic fixer includes a container having enclosed side and bottom walls. Fluid flow inlets and outlets for the flow of a liquid into and out of said cell are provided at opposite ends of the container. A layer of iron-containing material is positioned between the inlet and the outlet, and a layer of pellets, preferably spherical, having a density greater than water, is positioned above the layer of iron-containing material so that the iron-containing material is continuously compressed by the weight of the pellets, thereby avoiding formation of voids in the material as it is consumed.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for smelting copper which includes a smelting furnace, a separating furnace, a converting furnace, and launders connecting these furnaces in series. In the smelting furnace, copper concentrate is melted and oxidized to produce matte and slag. In the separating furnace, the matte is separated from the slag. In the converting furnace, the matte separated from the slag is oxidized to produce blister copper. A plurality of anode furnaces are provided for refining the blister copper produced in the converting furnace into copper of higher quality. A blister copper launder assembly, which has a main launder and a plurality of branch launders branched off from the main launder, is provided to connect the converting furnace and the anode furnaces together. A selecting device may be attached to the launder assembly for selectively bringing the main launder into fluid communication with one of the branch launders.

Abstract: A method, for the conveyance of molten metal from one place to another, in a high-temperature molten metal pool in a metal-melting furnace or out of said molten metal pool, employing an at least partially-inclined elongated conveying conduit and gas feed means for feeding inert gas into the lower end of the conveying conduit and thereby inducing a flow of molten metal in and through said conveying conduit, is disclosed, along with suitable apparatus for carrying out the said method wherein the parts or elements coming into contact with the high-temperature molten metal pool are of a suitable refractory material. According to the present invention, the molten metal is alloyed simultaneously with its conveyance, the same inert gas being employed for both conveying the molten metal and for entrainment of the alloying metal.

Abstract: A peepsight for a blast furnace tuyere sensor system comprises a housing in which is mounted a colored glass viewing window and one end of a fiber optic cable directed toward a tuyere so that an operator can view the interior of the furnace and the cable can receive light energy emitted at the tuyere for transmittal of such light energy to an optical sensor.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of complex metal sulphide materials and for the recovery of metal values from such materials. The process involves first subjecting the material to a leaching process under conditions such that sulphide-sulphur is oxidized to sulphate and such that oxidized iron and impurities such as As will pass into solution, whereafter the leaching residue is melted for conventional pyrometallurgical recovery of the metal values.Different embodiments of the process provide for the recovery of precious metal values from refractory materials containing such values and for the recovery of metal from complex copper concentrate and complex nickel concentrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of metallic titanium, characterized in that the process comprises reducing a titanium-fluorine compound selected from titanium tetrafluoride and any hexafluorotitanate soluble in a molten fluoroaluminate, with metallic aluminum in a molten fluoroaluminate. A process for the production of intermediates useful in the processing ilmenite and related minerals is also described.