Abstract: In a method for producing liquid pig iron or liquid steel pre-products from charging substances comprising iron ore, preferably in lumps or pellets, and optionally fluxes. The charging substances are directly reduced to sponge iron in a reduction zone (12) and the sponge iron is melted in a melt-down gasifying zone (8) under the supply of carbon carriers and oxygen-containing gas. CO-and H2-containing gas is introduced into the reduction zone (12) and is reacted there. An export gas is withdrawn and conducted to a consumer (20). The export gas is subjected to CO2 removal or partial combustion and the resulting gas with CO2 is introduced back into the reduction process. This is done to keep down the carbon carriers having high portion of Cfix as well as consumption of O2.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shaft furnace (1), particularly to a direct-reduction shaft furnace, with a bed (2) of lumpy material, particularly lumpy material containing iron oxide and/or sponge iron, with discharge devices (4) for lumpy material which are located above the bottom area (3) of the shaft furnace (1), as well as with inlet ports (6) for a reduction gas which are arranged above the discharge devices (4). Arrangements (7) for moving the material in the shaft furnace (1) are located between the area formed by the inlet ports (6) and that formed by the discharge devices (4).

Abstract: In operating a mill including a blast furnace and a steel converter, it is difficult to mutually adapt the operations of the blast furnace and of the converter in a flexible way. When using scrap as a coolant in the refining process, undesired accompanying elements are introduced into the metal melt.The invention consists in that, instead of a blast furnace, a direct reduction plant in combination with a meltdown gasifier are provided as the pig iron source. This aggregate is operated in combination with a single steel converter. The direct reduction plant, on its discharge side, is connected both with the meltdown gasifier and with the steel converter via sponge iron transporting devices. The meltdown gasifier communicates with the steel converter via a transport line for molten pig iron. As the solid charge in the refining process sponge iron is exclusively used.

Abstract: In the operation of mills for the production of steel from molten pig iron and solid ferrous carriers, it is sought for economic reasons to increase the portion of solid ferrous carriers. To supply thermal carriers, such as fossile fuels, as is known, involves the disadvantages of extended charging times and of undesired accompanying elements introduced into the process.To avoid these disadvantages, the invention provides for a combination of at least one steel converter with a direct reduction plant, a meltdown gasifier and a cupola. Therein, sponge iron discharged from the direct reduction plant is melted to pig iron in the meltdown gasifier, on the one hand, and is used as solid charge for the converter. Scrap, together with coke, is melted in the cupola to blown metal, the latter, together with the pig iron produced in the meltdown gasifier, being supplied to the converter as liquid charge.

Abstract: The process for recovering metals of the 1.sup.st, 2.sup.nd, 4.sup.th, 5.sup.th, 6.sup.th, 7.sup.th and 8.sup.th sub-group of the periodic law from solutions of their salts, particularly from solutions containing hydrochloric acid contemplates as the first process step a neutralization (1) for precipitating the metals from their acid metal salt solutions in the form of hydroxides or carbonates. The precipitate is pressed (4), and via conduits (9, 10) finally divided metal of the metal having been present as a salt as well as a carbon source originating of waste materials, particularly in form of ground heat setting synthetic plastics materials such as phenolic resins, amine formaldehyde resins, epoxide resins, polyesters, and also CaCO.sub.3 is added. All components of this mixture must be used in a fine-grained state and preferably with a maximum particle size of 0.5 mm.

Abstract: In a method of recovering heavy metals from filter residues containing metal oxides, metal hydroxides or metal carbonates, the residues are dried and reduced during heat supply in the presence of carbon-containing reducing agents. The metal-containing filter residues having a water content of 30 to 80% are dried in a three-compartment rotary drier (triplex drier), wherein a product having a grain size of 0.1 to 5 mm and a packing density of 0.4 to 1.2 kg/l results, which, after the addition of the carbon-containing reducing agents, is introduced into a crucible furnace at a filling height of 0.4 to 1.5 m. It is heated to a temperature above the melting point of the metal to be recovered. The filling height is kept approximately constant during the volume reduction of the material to be reduced occurring at an increased temperature by refilling the batch.