Abstract: An apparatus and process for the reduction in a plasma stream of a feed material including a comminuted metal oxide, a slag former and a reductant utilizing an enclosed horizontal reactor having a reduction chamber and a filter chamber therein separated by an either common partition having a plurality of holes therethrough or a refractory lined passageway. Coke filter media in the filter chamber act to filter out entrained molten metal contained in the plasma stream with the partition or passageway preventing entry of the coke from the filter chamber into the metal bath contained in the reduction chamber thereby limiting the amount of carbon entering the metal produced. Unreduced metal oxide is provided in the slag layer of the metal bath to maintain the stoichiometric ratio between the metal and reductant in the reduction chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wax condenser for separating wax from an entrainer gas (or sweep gas) which is introduced into a sintering furnace and then pumped out in order to remove the wax from the furnace. The condenser includes a hot chamber and a cold chamber. Wax is removed by the condenser in three ways. After the entrainer gas enters the hot chamber of the condenser from the sintering furnace, it will pass through a heated filter. The heated filter will capture a large percentage of the wax present in the entrainer gas. The entrainer gas passes from the heated filter through a flow-restricting aperture which is located in a barrier separating the hot chamber from the cold chamber. This flow restricting aperture causes a pressure drop across the barrier. When the entrainer gas passes through the aperture, an expansion of the entrainer gas takes place due to the drop in pressure associated with the passing of the entrainer gas through the flow restricting aperture.

Abstract: A method of reducing and recovering volatile metal from metal oxides comprising the steps of injecting metal oxide-containing material into a shaft reactor, simultaneously injecting reducing agent into said reactor, continuously maintaining said reactor substantially filled with coke, supplying thermal energy to the reactor, preferably by means of a plasma burner, such that at least some of the metal oxides are reduced to metal and melted or volatilized depending upon whether the metal is volatile. The melted metal is removed from the bottom of the reactor while the volatilized metal is permitted to flow upwardly through the shaft reactor in the form of metal vapor together with a gas flow. The coke in the shaft reactor through which the volatilized metal passes is maintained at a temperature in excess of 1000.degree. C., thus screening the upper portion of the shaft reactor and the reactor top by means of the coke so as to prevent condensation of the volatilized metal.

Abstract: Mercury filter for collecting low concentration mercury vapor in gas. Filter has an absorber having a collecting surface of a material that amalgamates readily with mercury, the surface having a reactive tarnish produced by exposure of the plates to available iodine. The absorber can have spaced collecting members with the gas passing about the collecting members. Optionally at least one of the collecting members is at a higher electrical potential difference than the remaining member, which potential difference is insufficient for the filter to act as an electrostatic precipitator so as to reduce attraction of dust. An optional electrically insulating porous matrix can extend between the collecting members and should have sufficient porosity to permit air to flow relatively freely between the collecting members.

Abstract: The invention relates to a distillation and sublimation apparatus having a receiving vessel and a number of containers for the starting product. Each container has a bottom, an outer wall and an inner wall with a vapor duct, and the containers are stacked one upon the other in such manner that the vapor ducts are arranged in series. An annular space is present outside the stack of containers. The apparatus comprises a condenser into which the vapor duct of the bottom container discharges.For the purpose of solving the problem of preventing condensation of vapor on the receiving vessel, it is proposed, in accordance with the invention, that capillary gaps (28), which are open towards the receiving vessel (3), be present between the containers (26). Furthermore, the condenser (8) communicates with the annular space (10) by way of at least one return-flow orifice (19) for the gases.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus and process for recovering mercury from a sludge which is discharged, for example, from a mercury-cell process for producing chlorine. In accordance with the invention the sludge is applied to a filter which washes away salt residue and provides an output constituting about 50% solid material. The filtrate is then applied to a dryer for further reduction of the water content, so that the output from the dryer constitutes about 95% solids. A muffle-type oven receives the output from the dryer and roasts the dried material while it is conveyed through the oven in a continuous process. The oven heats the dried sludge material to a temperature of about 1000.degree. F. to vaporize the mercury, such vapor being carried away to a quench tower for further processing.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing complex metallic materials, such as, copper-zinc or copper-lead-zinc concentrates and also slag-containing zinc and lead, by melting these materials in an atmosphere of gas containing free oxygen, and reducing the resulting melt by means of a gaseous plasma jet formed, for instance, by nitrogen. The apparatus includes one or several plasmatrons whose nozzles are immersed in the melt at an angle to its surface for agitation of said melt by the plasma jet and for reduction of the metal oxides.

Abstract: Metallic magnesium is prepared by reducing magnesium oxide with carbon and condensing metallic magnesium by ejecting a coolant gas from a nozzle having small hole to an outlet opening for discharging the mixed gas of the coolant gas, carbon monoxide and metallic magnesium, which is disposed at the corresponding position to the nozzle.

Abstract: Contaminated inactive mercury(II)chloride/active carbon-catalysts are worked-up. To this end the invention provides for the active carbon to be burnt with the quantity of air or oxygen or mixtures thereof necessary to produce combustion gases containing metallic mercury in vapor form together with between 0.5 and 5% by volume of oxygen and between 2 and 15% by volume of carbon monoxide; for the combustion gases to be contacted in a condensation zone with water so as to effect separation of the mercury therein; for the gases issuing from the condensation zone to be conveyed through a scrubbing zone having an alkaline liquor therein; and for the gases leaving the scrubbing zone to be delivered to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the concentration and recovery of platinum family metals from ceramic materials is disclosed, wherein the metal desired is first transported from the ceramic material through the utilization of a temperature gradient in a specially adapted furnace utilizing the volatile characteristics of the oxide of the metal desired. The volatile oxide is deposited upon a nucleation surface where it is reduced by means of hydrogen as the furnace cools to recover the metal.

Abstract: A process for producing zirconium or hafnium metals by the reduction of their tetrachlorides with an excess of molten magnesium is provided with increased reactor capacity, increased yield per run, and improved economy by virtue of withdrawal of magnesium chloride as formed during the reaction, which permits subsequent separation and recovery of excess magnesium from the product by a simple distillation and in a form suitable for direct utilization in a second or subsequent reduction. Apparatus is provided which accommodates both the reduction process and the distillation in convenient fashion.