Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are configured to: initiate a transaction in response to receiving a readiness probe request from a requesting system; set a probe flag for the transaction to a first state; send the transaction to a user application for processing; based on the probe flag being set to the first state, keep updates to recoverable resources in-flight while the user application is processing the transaction; based on the probe flag being set to the first state, roll back the updates to the recoverable resources in response to the user application ending processing the transaction; and send a readiness probe response to the requesting system based on how the user application ended processing the transaction.

Abstract: The invention provides a converter for purifying molten nonferrous material. A converter body having a refractory lined chamber holds the nonferrous material. A gas injector means pierces a lower portion of the chamber for bottom sparging the nonferrous material. A lance pierces an upper portion of the converter body projecting minimally into the chamber for limited exposure to adverse conditions. While converting with top blowing of gas containing oxygen and bottom stirring solid nonferrous metal may be added to the converter to cool the molten nonferrous material and purified molten nonferrous metal.

Abstract: A copper converting process starting with white metal or a mixture of white metal and metallic copper in which oxidizing gas contacts the molten copper mass either at or near the top surface of the molten mass while the mass is sparged with an inert gas from at or near the bottom of the mass and sparging is continued after contact with the oxidizing gas ceases.

Abstract: Use of a burner design featuring a tunnel of high length to diameter ratio enables the flash-smelting of sulfides to be carried out in a much more confined space than heretofore possible.