Abstract: A process for producing at least one rare earth chloride from an ore containing the at least one rare earth comprises: contacting the ore containing the at least one rare earth with reactants comprising a carbonaceous reducing agent, chlorine, and a boron-containing Lewis acid in a chlorination reactor to produce a gaseous product and a non-volatile chloride mixture comprising the at least one rare earth chloride.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing GeCl4 with or without SiCl4 from optical fibers, the method comprises the steps of: reacting comminuted optical fibers including germanium and optionally silicon oxides with a reagent including a solid carbonaceous reducing agent, chlorine and a boron compound to obtain a gaseous product including gaseous GeCl4, gaseous SiCl4, and gaseous BCl3 in accordance with the reactions: 2BCl3(g)+1.5GeO2=1.5GeCl4(g)+B2O3; 2BCl3(g)+1.5SiO2=1.5SiCl4(g)+B2O; B2O3+1.5C+3Cl2=2BCl3(g)+1.5CO2; and then condensing the gaseous GeCl4, BCl3 and optionally SiCl4 into liquid GeCl4, BCl3 and optionally SiCl4. The invention further provides a method for producing SiCl4 (and optionally GeCl4) from glassy residues obtained from optical fiber manufacturing and wasted optical cables.

Abstract: A method for recovering at least one platinum group metal (PGM) species from a feed product selected from the group consisting of chromite ore, chromite ore concentrate and PGM concentrate comprising the steps of: mixing the feed with at least one salt so as to produce a mixture, whereby the concentration of salt in the mixture is sufficient to convert at least one PGM species into a corresponding PGM chloride salt; and contacting the mixture with gaseous chlorine and CO at a temperature between about 240° C. and 800° C. to induce the conversion of at least one species of PGM into a solid material containing a corresponding PGM chloride salt, whereby said chloride salt of at least one PGM species can be recovered.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing GeCl4 with or without SiCl4 from optical fibers, the method comprises the steps of: reacting comminuted optical fibers including germanium and optionally silicon oxides with a reagent including a solid carbonaceous reducing agent, chlorine and a boron compound to obtain a gaseous product including gaseous GeCl4, gaseous SiCl4, and gaseous BCl3 in accordance with the reactions: 2BCl3(g)+1.5GeO2=1.5GeCl4(g)+B2O3; 2BCl3(g)+1.5 SiO2=1.5 SiCl4(g)+B2O; B2O3+1.5C+3Cl2=2BCl3(g)+1.5CO2; and then condensing the gaseous GeCl4, BCl3 and optionally SiCl4 into liquid GeCl4, BCl3 and optionally SiCl4. The invention further provides a method for producing SiCl4 (and optionally GeCl4) from glass residues obtained from optical fiber manufacturing and wasted optical cables.

Abstract: A method for recovering at least one platinum group metal (PGM) species from a feed product selected from the group consisting of chromite ore, chromite ore concentrate and PGM concentrate comprising the steps of: mixing the feed with at least one salt so as to produce a mixture, whereby the concentration of salt in the mixture is sufficient to convert at least one PGM species into a corresponding PGM chloride salt; and contacting the mixture with gaseous chlorine and CO at a temperature between about 240° C. and 800° C. to induce the conversion of at least one species of PGM into a solid material containing a corresponding PGM chloride salt, whereby said chloride salt of at least one PGM species can be recovered.

Abstract: A method for increasing the chrome to iron ratio of a chromite product selected from the group consisting of ore and ore concentrate comprising the steps of mixing the chromite product with at least one salt so as to produce a mixture, whereby the concentration of salt in the mixture is selected to induce the selective chlorination of iron; and chlorinating the mixture in the presence of CO at a temperature sufficient to induce the formation of a thin film of a melt around the chromite product and at a temperature able to promote the selective chlorination of iron, whereby an iron impoverished chromite product is yielded having an increased chromite to iron ratio as compared to that of the chromite product.

Abstract: A trailer and platform unit of the type having a trailer defining a rear-end opening from the ground up through which an enclosure is accessed, with the platform adapted to support material and being loaded onto the trailer through the rear-end opening by the trailer backing into the platform whereby the platform engages and is supported by rails on opposed sides of the enclosure. The platform comprises a support surface to support material and lateral edge surfaces defining a periphery of the platform. Stabilizer devices each have a support arm with a first end connected to the platform, a second end projecting laterally away from one of the lateral edge surfaces of the platform, a base plate at the second end of the support arm. Adjustment mechanisms for each stabilizer device sets the vertical position of the base plate with respect to the platform so as to increase the footing of the platform on the ground.

Abstract: A method for recovering at least one platinum group metal (PGM) species from a feed product selected from the group consisting of chromite ore, chromite ore concentrate and PGM concentrate comprising the steps of: mixing the feed with at least one salt so as to produce a mixture, whereby the concentration of salt in the mixture is sufficient to convert at least one PGM species into a corresponding PGM chloride salt; and contacting the mixture with gaseous chlorine and CO at a temperature between about 240° C. and 800° C. to induce the conversion of at least one species of PGM into a corresponding PGM chloride salt, whereby said chloride salt of at least one PGM species can be recovered.

Abstract: A method for increasing the chrome to iron ratio of a chromite product selected from the group consisting of ore and ore concentrate comprising the steps of mixing the chromite product with at least one salt so as to produce a mixture, whereby the concentration of salt in the mixture is selected to induce the selective chlorination of iron; and chlorinating the mixture in the presence of CO at a temperature sufficient to induce the formation of a thin film of a melt around the chromite product and at a temperature able to promote the selective chlorination of iron, whereby an iron impoverished chromite product is yielded having an increased chromite to iron ratio as compared to that of the chromite product.

Abstract: A method for decontaminating soil containing inorganic contaminants having a degree of liberation of at least 60%, comprising the steps of removing from a coarse fraction at least a portion of inorganic contaminants in particulate form contained therein with a jig to produce a treated coarse fraction, removing from an intermediate fraction at least a portion of inorganic contaminants in particulate form contained therein with a separator selected from the group consisting of a spiral and a classifier to produce a treated intermediate fraction, removing from a fine fraction at least a portion of inorganic contaminants in particulate form contained therein with a separator selected from the group consisting of a flotation cell and a multi-gravity separator to produce a treated fine fraction, whereby the combined treated coarse, intermediate and fine fractions are impoverished in inorganic contaminants.

Abstract: A method for decontaminating soil containing inorganic contaminants having a degree of liberation of at least 60%, comprising the steps of removing from a coarse fraction at least a portion of inorganic contaminants in particulate form contained therein with a jig to produce a treated coarse fraction, removing from an intermediate fraction at least a portion of inorganic contaminants in particulate form contained therein with a separator selected from the group consisting of a spiral and a classifier to produce a treated intermediate fraction, removing from a fine fraction at least a portion of inorganic contaminants in particulate form contained therein with a separator selected from the group consisting of a flotation cell and a multi-gravity separator to produce a treated fine fraction, whereby the combined treated coarse, intermediate and fine fractions are impoverished in inorganic contaminants.

Abstract: A method for decontaminating soil containing inorganic contaminants having a degree of liberation of at least 60%, comprising the steps of removing from a coarse fraction at least a portion of inorganic contaminants in particulate form contained therein with a jig to produce a treated coarse fraction, removing from an intermediate fraction at least a portion of inorganic contaminants in particulate form contained therein with a separator selected from the group consisting of a spiral and a classifier to produce a treated intermediate fraction, removing from a fine fraction at least a portion of inorganic contaminants in particulate form contained therein with a separator selected from the group consisting of a flotation cell and a multi-gravity separator to produce a treated fine fraction, whereby the combined treated coarse, intermediate and fine fractions are impoverished in inorganic contaminants.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for the removal of organic and inorganic contaminants from contaminated sediment or soil. The method comprises a first step of removal and disposal of very large debris while the smaller particle flow is directed to a second step of removal of organic contaminants preferably by means of attrition cell, conditioning tank and flotation columns, the remaining particulate flow, free of organic contaminants, is directed to a third step of removal of inorganic contaminants preferably by means of hydrocycloning to separately deal with very small particles of less than 20 microns, both particulate flows are then preferably subjected to column flotation to separate out the inorganic contaminants. Thus, the method of the present invention yields decontaminated soil or sediment and two distinct contaminant concentrates (organic and inorganic, respectively). Both concentrates can be recovered and used for various applications.