Abstract: A high-energy beam additive manufacturing forming device and forming method, comprising a magnetic field unit for assisting additive forming, and further comprising a forming base (6) for placing a material (12) to be processed, and a high-energy beam generation device which emits a high-energy beam, acts on the material (12) to be processed and forms a molten pool (15). The magnetic field unit comprises a first magnetic field generating device (7), and the first magnetic field generating device (7) comprises an induction coil (20) provided below the molten pool (15). The first magnetic field generating device (7) is detachably provided below a surface, used for containing the material (12) to be processed, of the forming base (6); second magnetic field generating devices (16) are provided above the forming base (6).

Abstract: Some methods for making a granular material comprise crushing demetallized slag particles with one or more crushers and screening the crushed demetallized slag particles with one or more screens to separate the demetallized slag particles into two or more fractions, the granular material comprising at least one of the fractions of the demetallized slag particles. Prior to the crushing, ones of the demetallized slag particles having a size that is less than or equal to 2 inches can account for at least 90% of the demetallized slag particles. An iron-compound content of the demetallized slag particles, by weight, can be less than or equal to 10%. Crushing and screening can be performed such that ones of the demetallized slag particles of the granular material having a size that is less than or equal to 1.25 mm account for at least 90% of the demetallized slag particles of the granular material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for sorting copper-bearing ore to select portions having a target copper content. The system includes an analysis and selection station including first magnetic resonance analyzer measuring the copper content of input ore and a controlled diverter to divert portions of the input ore to a collection path when the copper content meets or exceeds a predetermined cut-off value. The predetermined cut-off is adjusted by a controller in response to the first magnetic resonance analyzer. A second magnetic resonance analyzer measures the copper content of the ore in a product path. That measurement is fed back to the controller to fine tune the adjusted cut-off value above, up or down, to optimize the yield of ore having the targeted copper content. The system may include a station for sizing the input ore, a station for sizing the output ore, and a station for sizing waste produced by the system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the beneficiation of fine and very fine particles of iron ore are disclosed. The system includes a first triboelectric electrostatic belt-type separator (BSS) which receives and processes a stream of particles with a median particle size (d50) less than 75 microns to generate an iron rich concentrate. The system and method is water-free and carried out in a totally dry metallurgical route. The system also includes at least one air classification device that receives and processes a feed stream of particles to provide the stream of particles with a median particle size (d50) that is less than 75 microns. The system may also include a dryer and de-agglomeration system that receives a feed stream of particles and processes the feed stream of particles to provide the particle stream with a moisture of less than 2%.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for splitting an electrically conductive liquid, in particular a melt jet, comprising the steps providing the electrically conductive liquid which moves in a first direction (12) in the form of a liquid jet (10); and generating high-frequency travelling electromagnetic fields surrounding the liquid jet (10) which travel in the first direction (12) and accelerate the liquid jet (10) in the first direction (12), thereby atomizing the liquid jet (10).

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for sorting copper-bearing ore to select portions having a target copper content. The system includes an analysis and selection station including first magnetic resonance analyzer measuring the copper content of input ore and a controlled diverter to divert portions of the input ore to a collection path when the copper content meets or exceeds a predetermined cut-off value. The predetermined cut-off is adjusted by a controller in response to the first magnetic resonance analyzer. A second magnetic resonance analyzer measures the copper content of the ore in a product path. That measurement is fed back to the controller to fine tune the adjusted cut-off value above, up or down, to optimize the yield of ore having the targeted copper content. The system may include a station for sizing the input ore, a station for sizing the output ore, and a station for sizing waste produced by the system.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing a metallic article involve providing a non-metallic feedstock, for example in the form of an oxide of a desired metal or a mixture of oxides of the components of a desired metal alloy. A manufacturing apparatus has a reduction apparatus for electrochemically reducing the feedstock to a metallic product and a processor for converting the metallic product to a metallic powder. The powder is fed into an additive-manufacturing apparatus for fabricating the metallic article from the metallic powder. At least the reduction apparatus and the processor, and preferably also the additive-manufacturing apparatus, are collocated, or located in the same container, or in the same building, or on the same site.

Abstract: Disclosed is a battery pre-processing apparatus and method. The battery pre-processing apparatus includes a control mechanism, as well as an automatic feeding mechanism, a transmission mechanism, an electricity monitoring actuator, a non-destructive testing mechanism, a flexible grabber mechanism, a multi-station operating table, an automatic cutting mechanism, an automatic separation mechanism, and a recovery and dust collection system that are each electrically connected to the control mechanism.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing a container containing a metal and/or ferromagnetic solid and abrasive particles in a static magnetic field; where the container is surrounded by an induction coil; activating the induction coil with an electrical current, to heat up the metallic or ferromagnetic solid to form a fluid; generating sonic energy to produce acoustic cavitation and abrasion between the abrasive particles and the container; and producing nanoparticles that comprise elements from the container, the metal and/or the ferromagnetic solid and the abrasive particles. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising first metal or a first ceramic; and particles comprising carbides and/or nitrides dispersed therein. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising nanoparticles comprising chromium carbide, iron carbide, nickel carbide, ?-Fe and magnesium nitride.

Abstract: A method for producing a metal powder includes maintaining molten reducing metal in a sealed reaction vessel that is free of added oxygen and water, establishing a vortex in the molten reducing metal, introducing a metal halide into the vortex so that the molten reducing metal is in a stoichiometric excess to the metal halide, thereby producing metal particles and salt, removing unreacted reducing metal, removing the salt, and recovering the metal powder. The molten reducing metal can be a Group I metal, a Group II metal, or aluminum.

Abstract: A method of controlling iron in a hydrometallurgical process is disclosed. The method may comprise the steps of: leaching (14, 114) a feed slurry (2, 102); forming a pregnant leach solution (12a, 12b; 112a, 112b); removing a first leach residue (18, 118) from the pregnant leach solution (12a, 12b); and sending a portion (12b, 112b) of the pregnant leach solution (12a, 12b) and/or raffinate (22, 122) produced therefrom, to an iron removal process (34, 134). According to some preferred embodiments, the iron removal process (34, 134) may comprise the steps of: sequentially processing the pregnant leach solution (12a, 12b) and/or raffinate (22, 122) produced therefrom in a first reactor (R1) a second reactor (R2), and a third reactor (R3); maintaining a pH level of the first reactor (R1) above 4, by virtue of the addition of a first base; maintaining a pH level of the second (R2) and/or third (R3) reactors above 8.5, by virtue of a second base; and forming solids (46) comprising magnetite (68).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing a container containing a metal and/or ferromagnetic solid and abrasive particles in a static magnetic field; where the container is surrounded by an induction coil; activating the induction coil with an electrical current, to heat up the metallic or ferromagnetic solid to form a fluid; generating sonic energy to produce acoustic cavitation and abrasion between the abrasive particles and the container; and producing nanoparticles that comprise elements from the container, the metal and/or the ferromagnetic solid and the abrasive particles. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising first metal or a first ceramic; and particles comprising carbides and/or nitrides dispersed therein. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising nanoparticles comprising chromium carbide, iron carbide, nickel carbide, ?-Fe and magnesium nickel.

Abstract: There is provided a production method and a production device for producing each of the rare earth sintered magnet sintered bodies without carrying a mold in a sintering furnace. The method includes feeding an alloy powder into a mold having side walls divided into two or more sections; filling the alloy powder into the mold to prepare a filled molded-body; orienting the alloy powder in the filled molded-body by applying a magnetic field to the filled molded-body to prepare an oriented filled-molded-body; detaching the side walls of the mold from the oriented filled-molded-body and retrieving the oriented filled-molded-body from the mold; and sintering the retrieved oriented filled-molded-body. The filling step and the orienting step are performed at different locations. A pulsed magnetic field can be applied in the orienting step and inside of the mold can be partitioned into a plurality of cavities by partitions.

Abstract: A system and a method for determining/predicting a tapping time for a metal melt in an electric arc furnace (EAF), at least one electrode is provided for melting the metal melt until it reach a target tapping temperature, the EAF further includes a slag and smoke layer on the surface of the metal melt, wherein an electromagnetic stirrer is provided for stirring the metal melt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a sintered magnet, using a mold provided with a main body having a cavity and a lid whose inner face is flat, and the method containing a filling process of filling alloy powder in the cavity and then mounting the lid on the main body, an orienting process of applying a magnetic field in a predetermined direction to the alloy powder in a state of being filled in the cavity, a sintering process of sintering the alloy powder by heating in a state of being filled in the cavity after the orienting process, and a mold inverting process of turning the mold upside down which is carried out between the filling process and the orienting process or between the orienting process and the sintering process.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a sintered compact includes a first step in which magnetic powder is fabricated by rapid solidification, a second step in which a mass of the magnetic powder is housed in a forming mold, and preliminary heating is performed by placing the mass of the magnetic powder in a preliminary heating part of the forming mold at first temperature that is lower than coarse crystal particle generation temperature, and a third step in which main heating is performed by placing the preliminarily heated mass of the magnetic powder at second temperature that is lower than the coarse crystal particle generation temperature and higher than the first temperature, and press forming is performed while keeping temperature of the magnetic powder at densification temperature or higher.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing a metal matrix nanocomposite (MMNC) is an in-situ synthesis technique for preparing a metal matrix with ceramic reinforcements dispersed homogenously therein. The method includes mixing a base metal matrix material with two or more ceramic-forming elements to form a mixture; blending the mixture; drying the mixture; ball milling the mixture with a plurality of milling balls to form a milled mixture; using induction heating to form a melt flow and induce electromagnetic forces; and initiating a plurality of stirring vortexes in the melt flow to form the metal matrix nanocomposite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an eco-friendly and single step process for the preparation of high purity iron by using hydrogen plasma in a suitable smelting reactor furnace. Reduction of iron oxide in excess of 99% can be achieved by reducing the iron ore in hydrogen plasma smelting system. The product quality is greatly improved as there is no instance of coke inclusion which otherwise would have carried carbon, sulphur, phosphorous, silica, etc. with it. In addition, this greatly diminishes carbon dioxide emission thereby making the process highly eco-friendly in nature. Apart from these, the process produces water as the only by-product. The process takes care of the green house effect with the non-involvement of gases like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide during the operation. Thus, the present process is developed to produce high pure iron in a hydrogen plasma reactor without using carbon as reductant which thereby reduces the carbon dioxide emission drastically.

Abstract: A method for recovering a valuable material from a lithium-ion secondary battery, the method contains: roasting a lithium-ion secondary battery containing a valuable material in a metal battery case thereof to obtain a roasted material; stirring the roasted material with liquid to separate contents containing the valuable material from the inside of the metal battery case; and sorting the contents separated by the separation and the metal battery case to obtain a recovered material containing the valuable material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing slags of non-ferrous metallurgy, containing iron and valuable metals, to produce clean slag that is free of detrimental substances and valuable metals and suitable as it is for use as a raw material or construction material. Slag is reduced in a reduction furnace (18) with the help of reducing agents (19) so far that at least 5% of the iron of the slag is reduced into metal. At the same time, some of the valuable metals, such as zinc, lead, arsenic and cadmium, vaporize. The contents of the reduction furnace (18) are continuously mixed to prevent separation of a metallic phase from the slag. The generated slag-metal mixture (21) is tapped off from the reduction furnace (18), cooled, crushed and ground to a finer size. Finally, a metal fraction (26) is separated from a clean slag (25).

Abstract: The invention provides the Magnetoelectric Effect Material consisted of a single isotope, the alloy of isotopes, or the compound of isotopes. The invention applies enrichment and purification to increase the isotope abundance, to create the density of nuclear exciton by irradiation, and therefore increase the magnetoelectric effect of the crystal of single isotope, the alloy crystal of isotopes and the compound crystal of isotopes. The invention provides the manufacturing method including the selection rules of isotopes, the fabrication processes and the structure of composite materials. The invention belongs to the area of the nuclear science and the improvement of material character. The invention using the transition of entangled multiple photons to achieve the delocalized nuclear exciton. The mix of selected isotopes adjusts the decay lifetime of nuclear exciton and the irradiation efficiency to generate the nuclear exciton.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is, in refining a metal or a semiconductor melt, without impairing refining efficiency, to alleviate wear and tear commensurate with unevenness in a crucible caused by instability in melt flow, and to allow safe operation over long periods of time such that leakages from the crucible do not occur. Provided is a metal or semiconductor melt refining method, in which, by using an AC resistance heating heater as a crucible heating method, the melt is heat retained and mixed by a rotating magnetic field which is generated by the resistance heating heater.

Abstract: There is provided a technology for decreasing copper and tungsten contained in tantalum-containing wastes, and recovering a high-purity tantalum. The present invention is a tantalum recovery method for recovering tantalum from a tantalum-containing waste, the method comprising subjecting the tantalum-containing waste to an acid treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere, thereafter to a roasting treatment and an alkali treatment, and further comprising carrying out a magnetic separation treatment before the acid treatment to thereby separate a tantalum-containing material in the tantalum-containing waste. This is particularly a suitable recovery method for recovering tantalum from wastes containing a relatively large amount of copper and tungsten such as discarded substrates such as printed wiring boards.

Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to recovering bond coat materials and barrier coat materials from co-mingled mixtures of bond coat and barrier coat materials (e.g., plasma overspray waste), and from mixtures of co-mingled bond coat and barrier coat materials stripped from a substrate. The disclosure also relates to recovering rare earth elements (e.g., yttrium) from a barrier coat of the co-mingled plasma overspray waste or mixture of co-mingled bond coat and barrier coat materials stripped from the substrate.

Abstract: A method of recovering Fe from steel-making slag is disclosed. The method includes the steps of melting steel-making slag having a higher Fe content than iron-making slag by heating the steel-making slag to a first temperature; cooling the molten slag to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature and then maintaining the same at the second temperature for a predetermined time to thus precipitate Fe in the molten slag, thereby forming and growing an Fe-rich phase; rapidly cooling the slag to room temperature; and crushing the solidified slag and magnetically separating a magnetically-susceptible portion from a magnetically-unsusceptible portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of separating and recovering iron from a waste non-ferrous slag, generated in a process for smelting of non-ferrous metals, including copper, zinc and lead, in which a reducing agent and a reaction catalyst are added to the crushed waste non-ferrous slag, and the mixture is subjected to a reduction reaction, thereby converting amorphous iron oxides, bound to alumina, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, silica, and the like in the waste non-ferrous slag, to crystalline iron (Fe) and iron carbide (Fe2C); the resulting material is crushed to separate iron and iron carbide obtained by the reduction reaction from components such as alumina, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, silica, and the like; the crushed material is separated into fractions by particle size; and the fractions are subjected to wet magnetic separation and dry magnetic separation to separate and recover magnetic iron concentrates from the fractions.

Abstract: A method of controlling a melting process in an electric arc furnace for melting a metallic material. By means of the present disclosure it is possible to minimize desired process properties such as the melting time or the total power consumption of the melting process. The method includes the steps of receiving or collecting measured data of at least one process variable, determining the current state of the process, performing an optimization of the melting process, determining a process input based on the result of the optimization, and controlling the melting process by means of the process input. A control system is also presented herein.

Abstract: An apparatus for electromagnetic stirring of the steel melt in an electrical arc furnace includes two electromagnetic stirrer units, a current supply, and a control unit. The two stirrers are mounted on an outer bottom surface of the electrical arc furnace at opposites sides of a central position of the bottom surface, the current supply is operatively connected to the two electromagnetic stirrer units, and the control unit is operatively connected to the current supply to control the operation of the two electromagnetic stirrer units.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for the electromagnetic stirring of electrically conductive fluids in the liquid state and/or in the state of onsetting solidification of the fluid, using a rotating magnetic field that is produced in the horizontal plane of a Lorentz force. The aim is to achieve an intensive three-dimensional flow on the inside of the fluid for mixing in the liquid state up to the direct vicinity of solidifying fronts, and to simultaneously ensure an undisturbed, free surface of the fluid. The solution is to change the direction of rotation of the magnetic field rotating in the horizontal plane at regular time intervals in the form of a period duration, wherein the frequency of the directional change of movement of the magnetic field vector is adjusted such that in the state of mixing the liquid fluid a period duration is adjusted between two directional changes of the magnetic field during a time interval as a function of the adjustment time with the condition (I) 0.5·ti.

Abstract: A method of enriching the iron content of low grade iron ore bearing materials has been developed which produces a high iron ore concentrate suitable for processing into pig iron and steel. The process includes reducing the low grade iron ore bearing materials to a fine particulate form and treating a water slurry of this material by applying a combination of ultrasonic treatments in a plurality of high and low intensity magnetic separation operations to remove interfering materials and concentrate magnetic and paramagnetic iron bearing materials into a high grade ore stock.

Abstract: A method for reducing a chromium containing material, comprising: combining the chromium containing material comprising chromium oxide with a carbonaceous reductant to form a chromium containing mixture; delivering the chromium containing mixture to a moving hearth furnace and reducing the chromium containing mixture to form a reduced chromium containing mixture; delivering the reduced chromium containing mixture to a smelting furnace; and separating the reduced chromium containing mixture into chromium metal and slag. The method also comprises agglomerating the chromium containing mixture in a granulator or the like. The chromium containing mixture has an average particle size of less than about 200 mesh (about 75 ?m).

Abstract: A method of sorting mined material for subsequent processing to recover valuable material, such as valuable metals, from the mined material is disclosed. The method includes a combination of selective breakage of mined material, for example, by using microwaves and/or high pressure grinding rolls, subsequent size separation, and then particle sorting of a coarse fraction of the separated material based on differential heating and thermal imaging.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnesium-based alloy, and to a method for producing same. The method comprises the steps of: melting a magnesium alloy into a liquid state; adding a silicon compound to said molten magnesium alloy; exhausting the silicon compound through a full reaction between said molten magnesium alloy and said added silicon compound such that the silicon compound does not substantially remain in the magnesium alloy; and exhausting the silicon produced as a result of said exhaustion in the precious step such that the silicon may not substantially remain in said magnesium alloy.

Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to recovering bond coat materials and barrier coat materials from co-mingled mixtures of bond coat and barrier coat materials (e.g., plasma overspray waste), and from mixtures of co-mingled bond coat and barrier coat materials stripped from a substrate. The disclosure also relates to recovering rare earth elements (e.g., yttrium) from a barrier coat of the co-mingled plasma overspray waste or mixture of co-mingled bond coat and barrier coat materials stripped from the substrate.

Abstract: A method of enriching the iron content of low-grade iron-bearing ore materials has been developed which produces a high iron ore concentrate suitable for processing into pig iron and steel. The process includes reducing the low-grade iron-bearing ore materials to a fine particulate form and treating a water slurry of this material by applying a combination of ultrasonic treatments in a plurality of high and low intensity magnetic separation operations to remove interfering materials and concentrate magnetic and paramagnetic iron-bearing materials into a high-grade ore stock.

Abstract: The present invention describes a process for removing uranium from a copper concentrate by magnetic separation (low and high field) to reduce the uranium content to commercially acceptable levels.

Abstract: A semi-liquid metal processing and sensing device comprising a crucible that is at least partially encircled by at least one induction coil. The one or more induction coils can be water cooled. The one or more induction coils can be designed to generate a variable power and/or variable frequency magnetic field which can be modulated to control the cooling of a molten metal charge in the crucible from the liquidus temperature to a selected heat content, resistivity and/or viscosity. The magnetic field can be designed to induce toroidal agitation of the metal charge in the crucible. The semi-liquid condition is sensed and can be actively controlled by the induction power supply via real time or non-real time analysis of electrical feedback signals that are obtained from the induction coil.

Abstract: A method to recover gold lost in roaster calcine-leach tailings, due to the formation of cyanide refractory compounds or morphologies during the roasting process. The process can include acid leaching of magnetic concentrate from roaster leach tailings, combining the acid leach slurry to the pre-acidulation tank for pressure oxidation feed, acid pressure oxidation of the pressure oxidation feed, and recovery of gold.

Abstract: A method for recycling a battery pack includes steps of: roasting the battery pack that houses a battery assembly that is in a charged condition, as it is, dismantling the roasted battery pack and separating the battery pack into unit cells and parts other than the unit cells, comminuting the unit cells obtained by separation, washing and screening the comminuted cells, dehydrating a slurry below a sieve after screening and recovering metals used for positive and negative electrodes, and recovering metal containing nickel by magnetically separating metal remaining on the sieve after screening, using a magnet.

Abstract: Iron impurities may be removed from volumes of molten aluminum or magnesium metals or alloys by applying a static magnetic field gradient to each of the molten metal volumes, or melts. The magnetic field gradient is applied to each of the melts so that separate-phase iron impurities suspended therein will move in the direction of the applied magnetic field and become concentrated in a predetermined region of the of the melts, thereby forming an iron-rich region. The remaining iron-depleted region of each of the melts can be physically separated from the as-formed iron-rich region and cast into shaped articles of manufacture or into semi-finished articles for further processing. Such articles will have a lower iron-content than the original molten metal volumes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for increasing the concentration of platinum group metals in urban waste material. The method comprises obtaining particles of urban waste material; screening the particles of urban waste material by size,—selecting particles of urban waste material that lie within a defined size range; and processing the selected particles using at least one physical or chemical technique whereby to increase the concentration of platinum group metals to at least 5 ppm. The invention also relates to an apparatus for increasing the concentration of platinum group metals in particulate urban waste material. The apparatus comprises: a drying unit (4), a particle size screening unit (5); and one or more processing units for effecting platinum group metal concentration of the particulate urban waste material by physical and/or chemical techniques, in particular a magnetic separation unit (7) and a froth flotation cell (9).

Abstract: A method of enriching the iron content of low grade iron ore bearing materials has been developed which produces a high iron ore concentrate suitable for processing into pig iron and steel. The process includes reducing the low grade iron ore bearing materials to a fine particulate form and treating a water slurry of this material by applying a combination of ultrasonic treatments in a plurality of high and low intensity magnetic separation operations to remove interfering materials and concentrate magnetic and paramagnetic iron bearing materials into a high grade ore stock.

Abstract: There is provided a technology for decreasing copper and tungsten contained in tantalum-containing wastes, and recovering a high-purity tantalum. The present invention is a tantalum recovery method for recovering tantalum from a tantalum-containing waste, the method comprising subjecting the tantalum-containing waste to an acid treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere, thereafter to a roasting treatment and an alkali treatment, and further comprising carrying out a magnetic separation treatment before the acid treatment to thereby separate a tantalum-containing material in the tantalum-containing waste. This is particularly a suitable recovery method for recovering tantalum from wastes containing a relatively large amount of copper and tungsten such as discarded substrates such as printed wiring boards.

Abstract: A physical process for recovering iron from magnetic cementitious spherical particles generated from metallurgical by-products such as slag from a basic oxygen converter (B.O.F.S) by applying a thermal process assisted by Ar—He plasma, which allows the microstructural and morphological transformation of these compounds based on iron, resulting in the generation of magnetic phases, among others. The separation process is based on the classification of the particles according to their new magnetic properties. Thus, when applying a magnetic field, the particles are separated into two fractions: a highly magnetic one and with low cementitious properties, and another fraction with high cementitious properties and almost no magnetic properties. The highly magnetic fraction is mixed with an aqueous medium to form an agglomerate and facilitate its transportation to be reefed to an iron melting process.

Abstract: An apparatus for electromagnetic stirring of the steel melt in an electrical arc furnace includes two electromagnetic stirrer units, a current supply, and a control unit. The two stirrers are mounted on an outer bottom surface of the electrical arc furnace at opposites sides of a central position of the bottom surface, the current supply is operatively connected to the two electromagnetic stirrer units, and the control unit is operatively connected to the current supply to control the operation of the two electromagnetic stirrer units.

Abstract: A method of enriching the iron content of low grade iron ore bearing materials has been developed which produces a high iron ore concentrate suitable for processing into pig iron and steel. The process includes reducing the low grade iron ore bearing materials to a fine particulate form and treating a water slurry of this material by applying a combination of ultrasonic treatments in a plurality of high and low intensity magnetic separation operations to remove interfering materials and concentrate magnetic and paramagnetic iron bearing materials into a high grade ore stock.

Abstract: Iron impurities may be removed from volumes of molten aluminum or magnesium metals or alloys by applying a static magnetic field gradient to each of the molten metal volumes, or melts. The magnetic field gradient is applied to each of the melts so that separate-phase iron impurities suspended therein will move in the direction of the applied magnetic field and become concentrated in a predetermined region of the of the melts, thereby forming an iron-rich region. The remaining iron-depleted region of each of the melts can be physically separated from the as-formed iron-rich region and cast into shaped articles of manufacture or into semi-finished articles for further processing. Such articles will have a lower iron-content than the original molten metal volumes.

Abstract: A process for producing hot metal includes partially reducing granular raw materials containing iron oxide with a carbonaceous reducing agent in a fluidized bed reactor at a temperature of at least 850° C. so as to obtain a reduced mixture. The reduced mixture is cooled to between 600° C. and 800° C. in a heat exchanger apparatus using a preheated process gas as a cooling medium that is preheated to between 300° C. and 500° C. before being introduced into the heat exchanger apparatus. The reduced mixture is then supplied to a smelting reduction unit via a discharge system.

Abstract: A plasma separator and mass filter system is described. In some aspects the system is designed and configured to cause a plasma in a vacuum chamber and to move charged particles therein axially and circumferentially towards one or more sets of collectors. Waste material is ejected from the system while the one or more collectors yield one or more corresponding products.

Abstract: A device for producing granular metal iron by placing a mass of a raw material mixture comprising a substance containing iron oxide and a carbonaceous reducing agent onto a heath of a moving heath type heating furnace and heating the mass to reduce iron oxide in the mass, thereby producing the granular metal iron. The device comprises, in addition to the moving heath type heating furnace, a sieving machine, a first magnetic separator and a second magnetic separator, and also comprises a passage through which a discharged substance from the moving heath type heating furnace is supplied to the sieving machine, a passage through which crude granules that have been sieved by the sieving machine are supplied to the first magnetic separator, and a passage through which fine granules that have been sieved by the sieving machine are supplied to the second magnetic separator.