Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing molten metals and/or slags thereof which involves top-blowing at least one reduction gas stream wherein fine grained coal or coke particles and injected for covering the surface of the molten metal beyond the blow impression formed by the reduction gas stream. The particles of the stream are at least partially gasified into a carbon monoxide (CO) contained reduction gas stream before they hit the metal surface, so that a mixture of carbon monoxide and coke is blown onto the metal surface together with the reduction gas stream. The coke particles are then radially moved toward the outside of the blow impression at all sides to form a thin veil beyond the perimeter of the blow impressions.

Abstract: A method for separating non-ferrous metals from ferruginous secondary substances such as residues and slurries from blast furnaces, steel mills, rolling mills, and the like. In accordance with the invention, a layer of the secondary substances is combined in agglomerated form with at least one layer of a sinterable mixture. The non-ferrous metals are volatilized off and recovered in the form of an oxide dust. The recovered dust is separated into at least two fractions having different non-ferrous metal contents and then the dust fractions are sintered with the sinterable mixture.

Abstract: A method for processing a sulfidic zinc source to recover metallic zinc wherein the source is leached with an electrolysis cell acid, the leaching product is separated into a liquor and a primary leaching residue, followed by drying and smelting of the dried leaching residue. The improvements of the present invention are directed primarily to the treatment of the liquor recovered from the leaching stage, and involve crystallizing out Fe.sup.2+ from the liquor as a ferrous sulfate hydrate in a crystallization stage, separating the filtrate from the crystallization stage in a first separation stage to produce a filtrate and a residue, neutralizing and oxidizing the separated filtrate from the crystallization stage to precipitate the remaining Fe.sup.2+ in a precipitation stage, separating the filtrate from the precipitation stage in a second separation stage and purifying the separated filtrate from the second separation stage before passing it to the electrolysis cell.

Abstract: A method for separating non-ferrous metals from an iron-containing waste material which includes providing separate contiguous layers of the waste material and a sintering mixture containing a finely divided carbonaceous fuel, passing hot combustion supporting gases, first through the layer of sintering mixture and then through the layer of waste material in a sintering zone under conditions sufficient to sinter the iron containing constituents, and volatilizing off the non-ferrous metals to produce a charge suitable for feeding to a blast furnace.