Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for recovering a rare earth element, including subjecting a workpiece containing at least a rare earth element and an iron group element to an oxidation treatment, then turning the treatment environment into an environment where carbon is present, and subjecting an oxidation-treated workpiece to a heat treatment, thereby separating a rare earth element in the form of an oxide from an iron group element, according to which an oxide of a rare earth element can be efficiently separated from an iron group element at low treatment cost, and also wear and damage to the treatment container can be suppressed to allow the container to be used repeatedly for a long period of time.

Abstract: A method of restoring the electrical efficiency of channel and pressure pour furnaces includes plunging a fluxing material with a specially designed plunging lance. The plunging lance chamber containing the fluxing material is 24 to 32 inches in length, 3 inches in diameter and has a capacity to hold 5 to 7.5 pounds of flux briquettes. The plunging chamber has holes drilled along the length of the body. The fluxing material contains by weight from 8.0 to 28.7% CaCO3 (calcium carbonate or limestone), from 0 to 18.5% MgCO3 (magnesium carbonate), from 3.6 to 18.0% Al2O3 (alumina) from 1.4 to 7.1% SiO2 (silica), in the form of a complex aluminosilicate, and from 19.4 to 46.4% Na2O (sodium oxide), in the form of soda ash (sodium carbonate). The total level of sodium ranges from 23 to 26% and up to 10% sodium fluoride or sodium chloride may be substituted for soda ash.