Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for recovering tin from tin smelter dust without the need for pre-agglomerating the dust particles. Dust containing tin oxides is directed into the tail flame of a plasma reactor, and the tin oxides are reduced to liquid tin using hydrogen and/or hydrocarbon gases supplied to the reactor as dust carrier and plasma gases. Tin is removed from a collection vessel at the bottom of the plasma reactor, preferably while in liquid form so that the recovery process may be run continuously. The plasma recovery process has demonstrated yields of about 94.5% and metal containing 99.7% tin, and analysis has indicated low operating costs relative to the current market price of tin.

Abstract: Contaminated iridium is refined by alloying it with an alloying agent selected from the group consisting of manganese and an alloy of manganese and copper, and then dissolving the alloying agent from the formed alloy to provide a purified iridium powder.