Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the biological recovery of metals in electric and electronic waste, which comprises a) inoculating a series of iron-oxidizing microorganisms and a mineral medium or fertilizers into an immobilized biomass column; b) performing a stage of biological oxidation of the iron II ions present in said mineral medium or fertilizers to iron III ions; c) irrigating a liquid phase into leaching columns that house an electrical material or one or more printed circuit boards from which metals are to be recovered, the iron III ions being reduced to iron II oxidizing the metals, and separating the metals by means of the dissolution thereof; and d) extracting the metals from the solution. The invention operates under a cyclic process that allows the iron II solution being re-circulated to the biomass column.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel cementitious product produced from steelworks slag additivation to obtain material having properties suitable for use in the partial or total clinker replacement for the production of different types of cement. The process, which is also object of this invention, aims to adapt the properties of steelworks slag, by means of thermochemical treatment, including and preferably, but not only, still in the liquid steelworks slag pot, taking advantage of the thermal input of steel processing, to form a greater amount of alite (essential compound to increase pozzolanicity), under controlled conditions. After additivation, preferably, but not exclusively, the additivated steelworks slag is subjected to quenching, comminution and concentration to stabilize the alite fraction, to release the present phases and to remove any excess contaminants, such as metallic iron.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel cementitious product produced from steelworks slag additivation to obtain material having properties suitable for use in the partial or total clinker replacement for the production of different types of cement. The process, which is also object of this invention, aims to adapt the properties of steelworks slag, by means of thermochemical treatment, including and preferably, but not only, still in the liquid steelworks slag pot, taking advantage of the thermal input of steel processing, to form a greater amount of alite (essential compound to increase pozzolanicity), under controlled conditions. After additivation, preferably, but not exclusively, the additivated steelworks slag is subjected to quenching, comminution and concentration to stabilize the alite fraction, to release the present phases and to remove any excess contaminants, such as metallic iron.

Abstract: An audio signal enhancing device, and a corresponding method of enhancing stereophonic signals, is provided which generates an enhanced signal with improved spatial sound image quality for upmixing a stereophonic input signal. When used in combination with a centre channel processor or LFE processor, an improved processing of the input signals is provided resulting in final centre channel and at least one LFE sub-woofer channel wherein the problems and disadvantages of the prior art are resolved. The result is a centre and LFE signal that contains a stable, non time-smeared image with a high quality natural-sounding fidelity. These advantages are achieved especially for time-delayed or phase-panned stereo input signals, independently of whether they are matrix encoded or non-matrix encoded input signals.

Abstract: An audio signal enhancing device, and a corresponding method of enhancing stereophonic signals, is provided which generates an enhanced signal with improved spatial sound image quality for upmixing a stereophonic input signal. When used in combination with a centre channel processor or LFE processor, an improved processing of the input signals is provided resulting in final centre channel and at least one LFE sub-woofer channel wherein the problems and disadvantages of the prior art are resolved. The result is a centre and LFE signal that contains a stable, non time-smeared image with a high quality natural-sounding fidelity. These advantages are achieved especially for time-delayed or phase-panned stereo input signals, independently of whether they are matrix encoded or non-matrix encoded input signals.