Abstract: An improved method of processing a molten non-ferrous metal and alloys of the metal using a blanketing gas having a global warming potential is provided. The improvement involves reducing the global warming potential of the blanketing gas by blanketing the molten non-ferrous metal and alloys with a gaseous mixture including at least one compound selected from the group consisting of SO2F2, NF3, SO2CLF, SOF4, and NOF.

Abstract: Use of a mixture of a C9 alkylsalicylaldoxime and a ketoxime as an extractant in a water-immiscible organic solvent solution in a metal extraction circuit to enhance the transfer of iron values to a dilute acid wash solution when the metal loaded organic solvent/extractant solution is washed with the dilute acid wash solution.

Abstract: A method of processing flue dust, where the flue dust contains one or more compounds from a first group of zinc, lead and cadmium compounds, and contains one or more compounds from a second group of iron, silicon, calcium, magnesium and aluminum compounds, includes mixing the flue dust with a carbonaceous material, heating the flue dust/carbonaceous material mixture under non-turbulent conditions to cause a substantial portion of the compounds from the first group to become gas-borne while retaining a substantial portion of the compounds of the second group in a non-gas-borne condition, and separating the gas-borne compounds from the non-gas-borne compounds.

Abstract: A metal feedstock from wasted metal products is disclosed. The feedstock is formed by crushing the metal products into pieces; magnetically separating sheet-shaped ferrous scraps and ferrous cast blocks from the crushed pieces; placing the cast blocks between the sheet-shaped scraps to make a sandwich structure; and pressing the sandwich structure to form a metal feedstock.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a method for using electric steel plant slag, ground and/or in particles of less than 6 mm, in self-reducing agglomerates, in the form of pellets or briquettes, as a fluxing material and as a secondary source of iron, in sufficient amounts to adjust the binary basicity of the final slag (ratio of CaO/SiO2) of the reduction/melting process to values equal or greater than 1.1. This application enables a reject that is difficult to discard to be transformed into a secondary source of iron and a final slag having adequate characteristics to be used in the concrete and asphalt paving industries.

Abstract: A metal purification method and a metal refinement method in which metals of high purity can be easily refined and recovered without increasing the size of the purification and refining devices or complicating the operation. To this end, metals containing impurities are molten in a plasma arc containing active hydrogen to remove the impurities. If the metals contain ceramics inclusions, the metals are molten in a plasma arc containing active hydrogen and the ceramics inclusions are caused to float over the molten metal by exploiting the difference of density between the molten metal and the ceramics inclusions. The floating ceramics inclusions are decomposed and removed. For application to refining, the metal oxides are molten in a plasma arc containing active hydrogen so as to be reduced to metals.

Abstract: A process for separating molten metals, the molten metals being treated with metal hydrides is provided. The molten metals employed are from Groups II-IV of the Periodic Table of Elements and the subgroups, including their alloys, and are distinguished by the fact that the metals or alloys are reacted with a metal hydride in a molten bath.

Abstract: A procedure for holding production of molten metal in a direct smelting process is disclosed. In situations where it is necessary to hold metal production and there is a continuing available supply of oxygen-containing gas and solid carbonaceous material, the hold procedure includes the steps of stopping supply of metalliferous feed material, continuing to inject oxygen-containing gas and solid carbonaceous material into the vessel and generating heat within the vessel to maintain the temperature of the molten bath above a temperature at which the bath freezes. In situations where it is necessary to hold production and there is a continuing supply of oxygen-containing gas but no available solid carbonaceous material, the hold procedure includes the steps of stopping supply of metalliferous feed material and injecting oxygen-containing gas and gaseous or liquid combustible material into the vessel and generating heat within the vessel to maintain the bath temperature.

Abstract: Alloying and/or reducing powder is pumped directly into the steel melt at a pressure of at least 20 bar, preferably at least 40 bar, with at most 20% of a fluidizing agent and the powder is discharged from the delivery line by a plunger extending across the cross section thereof.

Abstract: A method for winning the valuable metal content of a leaching solution acidified with sulphuric acid, by solvent extraction and electrowinning and a following final product winning stage, for instance an electrowinning stage, wherein the pH of the leaching solution is raised successively to precipitate out the iron and arsenic present in a first precipitation stage, removing said first precipitate, and precipitating the valuable metal content of the leaching solution substantially totally in a following precipitation stage. The resultant precipitate containing valuable metal and gypsum is removed and leached in an acid environment to re-dissolve the valuable metal content, and the thus formed acid solution and its metal content are delivered to a solvent extraction circuit in which the metal content is converted to a substantial degree to an acid electrolyte from which metal or some other end product is won.

Abstract: A component adjustor is added to an incineration residue containing salts to adjust a component ratio determined by the equation (Ca+Mg)/(Si+Al) in the range of 0.7 to 2.0. The incineration residue having the adjusted component ratio is charged to a melting furnace maintained in a reducing atmosphere to form a melt. The melt is separated into a molten slag layer, a molten salt layer, and a molten metal layer. The molten slag is fractionated and discharged from the melting furnace. The discharged molten slag is rapidly cooled. The temperature of the vapor phase in the melting furnace is maintained at 700 to 1000° C. A non-oxidizing gas is blown into the vapor phase in the melting furnace to increase the amounts of exhaust gases exhausted from the melting furnace.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for separating undesired toxic metals, such as Zn, Pb and Cd, from iron-containing materials by: sintering a mixture of such materials (typically including EAF dust and mill scale) with carbonaceous particles to form sturdy sinter lumps; preheating such lumps in a non-reducing atmosphere, if needed, to achieve an elevated temperature generally above the vaporization temperature of the undesired metals, but below the sticking temperature of iron-containing lumps (which is typically below the vaporization temperatures of such undesired metals in their oxide form), feeding the lumps at such elevated temperature into a reduction reactor; flowing hot reducing gas through lumps to volatilize undesired reduced metals and carry the volatilized metals out of reduction reactor leaving the iron-containing lumps largely stripped of the undesired metals and ready for discharge and safe and/or useful disposal or re-use, and finally cooling the off gas from the reactor

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for feeding solids into metal or steel melts whereby granular solids required during the analysis adjustment are fed in a predetermined quantity into the turbulent regions of the metal melt in a dense flow process by means of a pneumatic conveying device in order to achieve a high output while avoiding expensive and complex measures associated with lances and capital-intensive investments for injection devices and lance-moving devices.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method for the pre-reduction of laterite fines in a reactor, preferably a fluidized bed, with reducing gases generated in situ by adding a reducing agent such as a carbonaceous material in the fluidized bed chamber, fluidizing the bed with an oxidizing gas and maintaining the reactor at a temperature sufficiently high to partially combust the coal and generate a reducing atmosphere. The reactor bed discharge calcine product has a carbon content of about 0.1%, and the composite reactor product has a carbon content lower than 2.0%.

Abstract: A consumable electrode feed system for a refining system provides consumable electrodes to a refining system. The consumable electrode feed system comprises a side feed device that feeds consumable electrodes to a refining system in a first direction; a refining feed device that feeds consumable electrodes to a refining system in a second direction, in which the second direction being generally orthogonal to the first direction; and a connection system for connecting fed consumable electrodes to each other. The consumable electrode feed system allows for a predetermined amount of a consumable electrode to be refined in the refining system, and can position another consumable electrode above a previously fed consumable electrode. The connecting system then can connect a fed consumable electrode to a previously fed consumable electrode thus avoiding refining operation.

Abstract: The state of slag foaming generated in an electric furnace steel manufacture is judged by measuring the NOx amount in exhaust gas. The foaming state is adjusted to completely interrupt the contact of melted steel with air so that low nitrogen of the steel is always achieved or reduction of electric power consumption rate is achieved. Thus, in the manufacture of steel by subjecting iron scrap to dissolving, refining and heating stages successively in an electric arc furnace, the NOx amount in the exhaust gas is measured at the refining and heating stages of the melted steel and then the state of the slag foaming is judged depending upon the measured data.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for steelmaking using magnesium carbonate to create a foaming primary slag.

Abstract: The present invention discloses s novel synthesis method of nickel fibers. The method of the present invention involves reducing nickel ions in an aqueous solution with a reducing agent in the presence of a base, a pH buffer, and a magnetic field or a surfactant at a temperature of 80-100° C. for a period of time, wherein a pH value of the aqueous solution is not less than 11.0 during the period of time, so that nickel fibers are formed in the aqueous solution. The nickel fibers synthesized in the present invention have a diameter ranging from sub-micron to microns, and a length up to centimeters.

Abstract: For effectively reprocessing iron-containing residual smelting plant materials (1 to 3), in which iron may be present both in metallic form and in oxidic form, with lowest possible energy expenditure, the residual smelting plant materials (1 to 3) are processed into agglomerates (8,11), the agglomerates (8,11) are charged into an electric arc furnace (10), melted there and reduced, and the resultant melt is refined (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A process and apparatus for continuously reducing carbon monoxide (CO), uncombined free hydrogen (H2) and volatile hydrocarbons (VOC's) in molten metal refining vessel off-gases without forming undesirable oxides of nitrogen. Off-gases are directed to a reaction chamber wherein CO, H2 and VOC's are oxidized at a controlled temperature and with a controlled quantity of O2 So as to realize substantially total oxidation of gases present with minimized formation of oxides of nitrogen. Volume and energy of treated gases directed for baghouse treatment are reduced in comparison with prior practice.