Abstract: A method is provided for recovering scandium values from scandium-bearing ores. The method includes providing a scandium-bearing ore; subjecting the scandium-bearing ore to atmospheric pressure acid leaching with sulfuric acid, thereby producing a first, scandium-bearing solution containing ferric (Fe3+) ions; subjecting the first solution to hydrothermal processing, thereby precipitating from the first solution a material selected from the group consisting of hematite and basic iron sulfates and generating a second, scandium-bearing solution; and recovering scandium values from the second solution.

Abstract: A method for mitigating the buildup of direct reduced iron (DRI) clusters on the walls of a direct reduction (DR) furnace, including: injecting one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent into a charge disposed within a reduction zone of the DR furnace by: (1) injecting the one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent into a bustle gas stream upstream of or in a bustle of the DR furnace; (2) injecting the one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent into the bustle gas stream through a pipe collocated with a bustle gas port through which the bustle gas stream is introduced into the DR furnace; and (3) injecting the one or more of lime, dolomite, and another anti-sticking agent directly into the reduction zone of the DR furnace separate from the bustle gas stream.

Abstract: A smelting method capable of obtaining an iron-nickel alloy having a high nickel grade of 4% or higher by effectively facilitating a reduction reaction of pellets formed using a nickel oxide ore as a raw material. The present invention is a method for smelting a nickel oxide ore, by which an iron-nickel alloy is obtained by forming pellets from a nickel oxide ore and reducing and heating the pellets. In the pellet production step S1, a mixture is obtained by mixing raw materials that contain at least a nickel oxide ore and a carbonaceous reducing agent. In the reduction step S2, a furnace floor carbonaceous reducing agent is laid on the floor of the smelting furnace in advance when placing the obtained pellets in the smelting furnace and the pellets are placed on the furnace floor carbonaceous reducing agent and then reduced and heated.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical process is provided for the selective extraction of one or more target metals from ore, concentrates, tailings, slags or other metal bearing solids, by combining simultaneously leaching with sorption in the state of wet solids. The sorption and leaching are performed simultaneously, which reduces the required number of process stages in comparison to conventional technologies. Performing the sorption leaching in wet solids enables a significant increase in the concentration of leaching agents in relation to target metal(s) content in solids, at the same addition rate of said leaching agents, improving thermodynamic conditions and leaching kinetics for dissolving target metal(s). The invention has the main advantage of improving metal recoveries at a reduced consumption rate of leaching agents.

Abstract: A method of chromite reduction using cryolite (Na3AlF6) as an additive. The cryolite used may be pure cryolite or an impure mixture containing cryolite, such as the bath material produced as waste or as a by-product of aluminum smelting processes. In one embodiment, the reduction product is re-melted at a higher temperature to form larger metallic particles. In another embodiment, the chromite ore is granulated with cryolite particles and carbon reductant particles before being reduced.

Abstract: A method of making an aluminum alloy containing zirconium includes heating a first composition comprising aluminum to a first temperature of greater than or equal to about 580° C. to less than or equal to about 800° C. The method further includes adding a second composition including a copper-zirconium compound to the first composition to form a third composition. The copper-zirconium compound of the second composition has a molar composition of greater than or equal to about 41% zirconium to less than or equal to about 67% zirconium and a balance of copper. The method also includes solidifying the third composition at a cooling rate of greater than or equal to about 0.1° C./second to less than or equal to about 100° C./second to a second temperature less than or equal to a solidus temperature and decomposing the copper-zirconium compound at a third temperature of less than or equal to about 715° C.

Abstract: The present invention according provides a method of recovering silver from silver containing halide solutions, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an ion exchange column comprising a weak anion exchange resin; (b) introducing the silver containing halide solution to the ion exchange column to absorb silver in the weak anion exchange resin; (c) washing the loaded ion exchange resin with a first washing solution to rinse off absorbed zinc and optionally at least part of copper; (d) washing the loaded ion exchange resin with a second washing solution to rinse off remaining copper; and (e) optionally washing the loaded ion exchange resin with a third washing solution to rinse off absorbed lead; and (f) eluting the loaded ion exchange resin with an eluent to remove silver from the resin and to obtain a silver containing solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a particulate inoculant for treating liquid cast-iron, comprising, on the one hand, support particles made of a fusible material in the liquid cast-iron, and on the other hand, surface particles made of a material that promotes the germination and the growth of graphite, disposed and distributed in a discontinuous manner at the surface of the support particles, the surface particles presenting a grain size distribution such that their diameter d50 is smaller than or equal to one-tenth of the diameter d50 of the support particles.

Abstract: Methods of recovering metals from metal-bearing materials, and more particularly, methods for improving leaching efficiency in extraction processes by employing a surfactant composition in the extraction process, as well as slurries useful in the methods of recovering metals are provided.

Abstract: A nickel recovery process capable of decreasing nickel remaining in a byproduct by recovering nickel from the byproduct of electrolytic nickel manufacturing process by chlorine-leaching, and also, capable of simplifying a cementation step simultaneously, is provided. In a nickel recovery step S60, a nickel recovery step S70 and a nickel recovery step S80, nickel is recovered in each step from S0 slurry, residue flaker and chlorine-leached residue, which are byproducts of electrolytic nickel manufacturing process by chlorine-leaching, by using an aqueous solution containing 80 g/L to 390 g/L of chlorine and 30 g/L to 70 g/L of copper.

Abstract: The processes can comprise feeding a furnace with a raw material. These materials can contain impurities and valuable metals (base metals, precious metals, platinum group metals, minor metals). The processes can allow the volatilization of arsenic and indium contained therein. Before volatilizing the material, composition of the material is optionally modified so as to obtain a ratio % S/(% (Cu/2)+% Ni+% Co) of about 0.5 to about 2. The processes can comprise feeding a melting device with the depleted material, and with a source of carbon in order to obtain a multi-layer product and an off gas. Before melting the depleted material, the depleted material composition is optionally modified so as to obtain a ratio % S/(% (Cu/2)+% Ni+% Co) of about 0.5 to about 2. Thus, it is possible to recover Cu, Ni and Co as well as several other metals, including In, Ge, Pb, Bi, precious metals and platinum group metals.

Abstract: Provided is a method for transporting reductant such as coke into a metallurgical furnace containing a bottom layer containing molten metal and a top layer on top of the bottom layer containing molten metal. The method comprises a first providing step for providing reductant, a second providing step for providing metal, a forming step for forming carriers containing reductant and metal of reductant provided in the first providing step and metal provided in the second providing step, and a feeding step for feeding carriers formed in the forming step into the metallurgical furnace. Also provided is a carrier and a production method for producing carriers.

Abstract: Described are solid agglomerates of fine metal particles and methods for manufacturing same. A liquid oily lubricant is used in the manufacture of the solid agglomerates. The manufacturing comprises blending fine metal particles with the liquid oily lubricant and compacting the oily metallic mixture obtained to desired solid form. Advantageously, the solid agglomerates possess a desirable density, a suitable resistance to crumbling and dusting during handling, and they can resist to high temperature and to humidity. Solid agglomerated metal products, according to the invention, may be useful for different purposes such as quality charge material for steel plants, blast furnaces and foundries.

Abstract: A method of producing steel by charging a furnace with scrap metal and agglomerated oxy-carbon material into a workspace of a furnace, to reduce specific electricity consumption when melting. Increasing the iron output quantity by inputting electric energy, fuel, a carburizer, a flux and gaseous oxygen, using electric arc melting with decarburization of a metal bath, and releasing metal and slag from the furnace. Prior to melting, a portion of the material is loaded with a first portion of the metal charge into the central zone of the furnace, and the remaining material into the melted charge during melting 0.5-10 kg/min per 1 megavolt-ampere of electric arc transformer power. The oxy-carbon material size is between 5 and 80 millimeters.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating a rare earth metal-bearing scrap material by melting an extractant selected from the group consisting of bismuth (Bi) and lead (Pb) and contacting the melted extractant and the scrap material at a temperature and time to recover at least one of the light rare earth metal content and the heavy rare earth metal content as a metallic extractant alloy, which can be subjected to vacuum distillation or sublimation to recover the rare earth metal(s). The method can be practiced to recover the light rare earth metal content and the heavy rare earth metal content concurrently in a one-step process or separately and sequentially in a two-step process.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for producing reduced carbon footprint steel compositions by providing a molten steel having a carbon content; and introducing a carbon containing agent into the molten steel. At least a portion of the carbon containing agent is a reclaimed olefin coke.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the separation of cobalt from lithium present in a charge comprising lithium-ion batteries or related products, comprising the steps of: smelting the charge using a bath furnace equipped with a submerged air-fed plasma torch for injecting plasma gas into the melt; defining and maintaining a bath redox potential where cobalt is reduced to the metallic state and reporting to an alloy phase, and whereby lithium is oxidized as Li2O and reporting to the slag phase; decanting and separating the phases. It is characterized in that the reduction and oxidizing steps are performed simultaneously. A suitably low cobalt concentration is obtained in the slag.

Abstract: A single-heating stage method for reclaiming or recovering metals like nickel and vanadium from a petroleum waste byproduct has three steps: melting the petroleum waste byproduct in a reducing atmosphere, generating agglomerated metal in the melted byproduct, and lifting the agglomerated metal to an exposed surface of the melted byproduct. The metal precipitates out of the molten byproduct, agglomerates into a separate portion, and rises to an exposed surface of the melted petroleum waste byproduct even though the metal may have greater density than the molten petroleum waste byproduct. The original petroleum waste byproduct stratifies into a byproduct remnant and the agglomerated metal disk. The agglomerated metal disk is separable from the byproduct remnant and may be additionally separated into constituent metals in those embodiments with multiple metals in the disk.

Abstract: An alloy modifying agent for use in preparing a metal semisolid slurry, where the components and mass ratio thereof is silicon:iron:copper:manganese:magnesium:zinc:titanium:lead:aluminum having a mass ratio of (6.05-6.95):(0.15-0.45):(0.12-0.65):(0.002-0.006):(0.001-0.5):(0.025-0.05):(0.002-0.08):(0.002-0.06):(90.5-93.2). Also, a method for preparing the alloy modifying agent and a method for using the alloy modifying agent. The alloy modifying agent is capable of increasing the solid-liquid ratio and the spherical crystal content of the semisolid slurry, increasing the preparation efficiency of the semisolid slurry and the quality of the slurry, and ensuring the quality of a final die casting product.

Abstract: Method of combining industrial processes having inherent carbon capture and conversion capabilities offering maximum flexibility, efficiency, and economics while enabling environmentally and sustainably sound practices. Maximum chemical energy is retained throughout feedstock processing. A hybrid thermochemical cycle couples staged reforming with hydrogen production and chlorination. Hydrogen generated is used to upgrade feedstocks including bitumen, shale, coal, and biomass. Residues of upgrading are chlorinated, metals of interest are removed, and the remainder is reacted with ammonia solution and carbon dioxide to form carbonate minerals. The combination provides emissions free production of synthetic crude oil and derivatives, as well as various metals and fertilizers. Sand and carbonate minerals are potentially the only waste streams. Through this novel processing, major carbon dioxide reduction is afforded by minimizing direct oxidation.